Cosmic Kahuna - Cosmic Kahuna

Cosmic Kahuna

Cosmic Kahuna
self-released; 2015

3.7 out of 5

By J Simpson

Beach Boys Meet Slayer? Meet Cosmic Kahuna

There's a certain crossover between beach bum culture and hardcore punk. Both tend to be looked down upon by working stiffs, who judge people who just wanna ride the waves, surf the concrete, smoke spliffs and have a good time. Both have a kind of ferocious Zen about them, as well, from staring too long at the sun, and beating the body into submission in vicious mosh pits. 

Cosmic Kahuna is a three-piece surf punk rock n’ roll outfit from Melbourne, Australia, proving yet again that Australia may be the final stronghold for meaningful rock n’ roll. This self-titled debut Cosmic Kahuna is their first release, despite having been a band for about a year. They've been focusing on being a REAL BAND - playing shows, building a fan base and having a good time. 

Cosmic Kahuna is a stripped down and refined affair, full of efficient roaring guitar solos and pummeling quickshuffle guitars, in the best hardcore/d-beat tradition. Vocals are growly and kind of muffled, but intelligible if you stop and listen. Lyrics seem to mock the mundane working stiff world, proving, in case you were wondering, that punk rockers want none of what you have. We are not envious or jealous. We feel sorry for you, in your cubicle coffin.

As a former punk rocker, I've been greatly disturbed, at times, by the co-option of punk's revolution. Rock n’ roll is the safest, most tepid art form imaginable at this point - an idea that is in the air, as can be seen at great length in the new book Your Band Sucks: What I Saw At Indie Rock's Failed Revolution, by former Bitch Magnet guitarist Jon Fine. 

In light of the increasing competitiveness and commoditization of all forms of music, as a lifestyle accessory, sometimes it seems that this kind of stripped down rock n’ roll may be the ONLY REVOLUTION LEFT, built up from the streets, from basements and dingy nightclubs. This is the sound of buying a sketchy cassette tape out of someone's car trunk, or pilfering through stacks of hardcore 7"s, looking for revelation. Cosmic Kahuna is spending their time writing songs and learning how to play, knowing that is how you REALLY make it. 

Cosmic Kahuna is a labor of love, with not a lot of frills, bells or whistles, but it is sturdy, solid as a mahogany table, standing up to many, many late night debauches! 

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