On their self-titled 2007 release, the Carbonas play retro punk rock with obvious debts to the short, loud, and fast power-chord driven late-’70s sound of groups like the Ramones. There’s an omnipresent buzzy drone to the guitars, the tempos are almost uniformly fast without approaching the speed of hardcore, and the whole sound’s suffused with a lean ‘n’ meanness. With nine songs that flash by in a mere 20 minutes, it’s arguable as to whether this is an LP or extended EP. It’s not quite an attempt to be Ramones clones, as there’s a nastier streak to both the songs and the vocal sneer. As to what they’re pissed off about, you’ll have to make educated guesses, since Greg King’s vocals are smothered so much by the mix that it’s hard to pick them out. But many of the titles, à la “Hate You,” “Trapped in Hell,” “Frustrate Me,” and “I’m a Schizo,” give you a pretty good idea that the group’s not exactly happy with the status quo. The record’s a continuation of the late-’70s punk tradition that’s too derivative and inarticulate to add anything of substance to it. – Richie Unterberger
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