Album Review: Punk Rock Factory – It’s Just A Stage We’re Going Through
Reviewed by Tim Finch
Punk Rock Factory’s popularity has sky rocketed over the past few years, renowned for taking songs (or theme tunes) that are household names and giving them the bands trademarked pop punk overhaul, not covers - but reworkings!
Their past albums have seen the band turn Disney classics tunes into pop-punk anthems, 80's TV show theme tunes got the same make over as did songs from movie sound tracks. This unique way to engage fans in your music has enabled the band to become a near household name. But after all of that what next?
Well, as guitarist/vocalist Peej told us in a recent interview, for a long-time people have been asking them when they would give musical numbers the Punk Rock Factory makeover, and this week they deliver just that. The cleverly titled ‘It's Just A Stage We're Going Through’ takes eleven hit musical numbers and the band do with them what they do best.
Opening the album with ‘Rewrite The Stars’ from The Greatest Showman sets the tone for the album. As ever the bands infectious pop punk overtones draw you straight in. Whether you are familiar with the musical or not you can’t help loving this pop-punk take on the popular song.
All top rated musicals get the Punk Rock Factory treatment, ‘You’ll Be Back’ (Hamilton) and ‘Defying Gravity’ (Wicked) both get outings early on the album. The first stand out track is ‘December 1963 (Oh What A Night)’ the Frankie Valli number from the Jersey Boys musical. The pace they add to the song really steps up the energy, but what really comes across is Punk Rock Factory are really enjoying themselves doing this. There is a joyous feeling the band put over in the music and it’s infectious.
A reworking of Abba’s ‘Mamma Mia’ from the musical of the same name and ‘You’re The One That I Want’ (Grease) really set this album apart. Magical!
Punk Rock Factory have taken a concept and run with it, with this album they go one stage further and will no doubt propel themselves into the public consciousness yet further.
