Punk is a word so often misplaced in today's music industry. Whereas I would think of the term Punk as more of say an 'attitude', it so often gets wrongly used to describe horrible whiny pop music, usually sent our way from our friends in the USA.  In fact I believe the lyrical content to the Arctic Monkeys debut had far more punk about it than any of the multi million selling so called US punk bands like Blink 182 or Sum 41. So whilst I still find it largely impossible to label the likes of Less Than Jake or You Me at Six 'Punk', every so often you will find a jewel in the crown, and for yours truly that would be the double 10 inch vinyl copy of Rancid's 'Let's Go' album that I discovered back in 1994 in Spillers record shop in Cardiff.

This album was of course soon followed by their classic 'Out Come The Wolves', a perfect display of punk and ska that would surpass any of their peer's outputs.  And the reason this particular band were worthy of the 'punk' title in my mind was that they were being led by a bonafide punk rocker by the name of Lars Frederiksen, a man that lives, breathes, sleeps eats and shits proper Punk music, and you have to have respect for a someone who's strummed a six string for the legendary UK Subs during his career right?

When Rancid sold out the Bristol Academy a few years back, whilst his partner in crime Tim Armstrong was (allegedly) practising his poses and pouts back at the venue dressing room, Lars was in the Hatchet Pub opposite chatting to fans.  The man literally has Punk Rock running through his veins and truly understands the true meaning of what it means to be a 'Punk', so much so that during a gig with his side project Lars Frederiksen And The Bastards at the legendary Newport TJ's a few years back it felt like I had been transported back to the heyday of Punk, yes it was that chaotic.

So when Lars recently announced that he was going to form a new three-piece band with Never Healed duo Casey Watson (bass) and Paul Rivas (drums) and the music they wanted to play was Oi!/ Streetpunk you kind of got that feeling that if any man could tackle the genre with any dignity then he was the man for the job.  From the EP cover featuring three shaven headed rogues in faded denim and Doc Martens you come to realise when Lars takes on a project he literally puts every part of himself into his work.  Whereas a lot of people have misinterpreted the Oi! genre in the past, wrongly associating it with underground racist skinhead movements, the vast majority of the scene was in fact strictly opposed to such fascist beliefs, so where many may be put off by the Oi! label associated with The Old Firm Casuals I actually find this EP has far more to offer than just the 'label'.

Yes, there is definitely an Oi! vibe to the proceedings particularly on opening track 'The Old Firm (D.M.S)' but I think fans of Lars' previous works will as myself love this EP.  'Lone Wolf' could sit quite comfortably on the self titled 'Rancid' album, the album of pure Punk brutality that weaned the real Punks out of the pack, whilst 'Apocalypse Coming' revokes memories of the aforementioned TJ's gig with the Bastards.

After listening to the EP I went straight online to check out The Old Firm Casuals upcoming tour dates, but unfortunately they are not playing anywhere close enough for my meagre budget but I would urge anyone to check these guys out. And let's hope Lars brings a touch of The Old Firm Casuals to the Rancid camp when they enter the studio later in the year, a true Punk genius.

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