Los Angeles-based punk rock band Hollywood Apocalypse has just released their latest album, Rather Excessive – packing 15 songs into a short, snappy, and expletive-heavy 52 minutes and proving that punk isn’t dead in the process.
Rather Excessive marks the band’s third studio album, following 2022’s “53 Minutes of Fame” and 2024’s “Bonus Dias From Skid Row.” However, this is also an album of ‘firsts’ – the first album that tells a complete story as a concept album or rock opera would; the first album to feature two cover songs (“The End Of The World” by Skeeter Davis and “Fuck The World” by The Bates, for anyone wondering), and the first album that truly captures the band’s identity as Hollywood Apocalypse finally unlock their authentic sound.
Hollywood Apocalypse picks up hints of Sum 41, Busted and the like, sometimes wrapping eclectic, technicolour synths around that iconic pop-punk base, while at other times, letting the thrashy, heart-stopping pace of the genre explode in its purest form. Hidden amongst the all-out hits are creepy ballads such as “Little Psycho” – a track which almost sounds like an off-cut from Alice Cooper’s discography – and the eight-minute rebel anthem, “Fishing For Compliments,” which is worth every second of its run time.
“Be” is a personal favourite of this reviewer – brash and unforgiving, nostalgic with ‘70s punk moods yet cutting-edge in its bright execution. “1969” artfully wanders off-key in the ultimate protest against pop perfectionism, while song titles such as “Puke Stain,” “Fuck Shit Cunt Bitch” and “Love You Like A Needle” instantly snatch attention, serving a second wave of shock once you realise they’re actually top-tier tracks.
This album was a group effort, crafted over the course of several years by vocalist and guitarist Ivan, drummer Rotten Rollin, lead guitarist Celinda Chang, bassist Proto, keyboardist and guitarist Sky Lee Vague and, finally, keyboardists Claire and Lisa.
And like all good punk rock releases, Rather Excessive is fuelled by grit and bittersweet truths. However, it’s also a bit of a love letter to the city Hollywood Apocalypse was formed in. As frontman Ivan describes in his own words…
“I like to think of Hollywood Apocalypse as a musical postcard from Los Angeles – more specifically, from Hollywood itself. Our songs celebrate the city in all its contradictions. There’s the glamour, the neon lights, the sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll mythology, but there’s also the grit, the heartbreak, the trashiness, and the people trying to find themselves among it all. We don’t try to polish those contradictions away; we embrace them.”
He adds, “I think Rather Excessive is exactly what its title promises. It’s loud, explosive, dramatic, energetic, emotional, and completely over the top. It’s full of love, rage, desperation, celebration, bad decisions, hope, excess, and life. That was the mission from day one, and I honestly think we accomplished it. Maybe we even overachieved […] There’s a lot of blood, sweat, and experience on this album. It doesn’t feel manufactured or calculated. It feels lived.”
Our final verdict? Highly Recommended
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