I am generally of the idea that when a band loses a seminal founding member, they are forever changed and never the same as they once were. Numerous instances come to mind, and I'm sure you have a few that come to mind as well, so I wasn't looking too forward to hearing what Poison Idea was up to since the loss of original guitarist Pig Champion, but I bought this album anyways, because at the very least I figured there would be a few good tunes on here I could get into. I wasn't expecting anything close to the filth and the fury that are interjected on their classic early releases like Pick Your King or Feel The Darkness, but since this is their latest release since 2006's Latest Will album, I was semi-intrigued as to what they were putting out these days. It's not bad. I was never a huge fan of Poison Idea, but after seeing them just absolutely pummel and destroy some crowds and venues they've played in the past, they've always had my Respect. Like a lot of Hardcore Punk, to me nowadays anyways, it gets a bit monotonous after a bit, and the band seemed to pick up a lot of Heavy Metal sound as of late, but overall this isn't that bad of an album. If you're a Poison Idea fan already, you'll dig this album. It's filled with all the shouted out lyrics, crunchy guitar riffs, classic Punk 4/4 drum beats, and more 'Whoahs' and 'Hey! Hey!'s than you can shake your dick at. It's also got a lot of wanky lead guitar solos, which would sound more at home on a Bang Tango CD than on here, but whatever. It's trivial but worth noting. Standout tracks include The Rhythm's Of Insanity, Bog, and Beautiful Disaster. Avoid the song Dead Cowboy at all costs, because it's nothing but some sappy acoustic Beardcore chick ballad done in pseudo cowboy style. That song Hypnotic is a butt rocker song too. Ghey. Yeah, this isn't the best Poison Idea album I've ever heard, and they've had over 50 releases in their illustrious 35 year career, but it's far from the worst. Hell, I'm just glad their still around to show people how real Punk Rock is supposed to be done. ;-) Confuse & Conquer is Poison Idea's first release on the Southern Lord label, famous for releasing some sick ass Black Metal onto the world, and the album is billed as a tribute to their fallen Brother Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts, and in that regards, it succeeds in doing his legacy with the band proud.

Available from Southern Lord Records by clicking here. Also available everywhere else good Punk music is sold as the commodity that it is. "Like" Poison Idea on Facebook by clicking here.