Released: February 3, 2025 on (self-run label) EJ Records
Production: Bojan Pahljina and Elvis Jackson
Length: 35:28
Genre: Ska/Hardcore Punk
“A feel-good album for easy listening”
I know a lot less about HC punk and that kind of stuff than I do about metal noise-making, so forgive me for any slip-ups in the text below. They’ll come from ignorance.
Elvis Jackson lodged themselves in my heart and ears with the 2009 album Against the Gravity (RockLine review). I played it a lot during the hardest period of my life, and I can honestly say it helped cleanse my soul and ease the pain the way only a great album can. I’m also a big fan of the 2014 EP Window (RockLine review), while the rest of the discography I only dip into every now and then.
The band comes from Wajdušna, and as a Wajdouc patriot I simply have to cover their latest album We Play 4 You. It actually came out at the start of 2025, but better a beer than water, right? These days there’s only one original Wajdouc left in the band, singer Buda, but never mind.
We Play 4 You is the first album with new guitarist Marty, who officially joined the band in 2023 after original guitarist Bert ran into health problems. You notice the different guitar sound and playing approach right away. Don’t worry, Marty is an excellent guitarist, but there’s clearly less raw energy and more finesse. As a result, the Elvises get their heavy metal cravings out of the way pretty quickly. The opening Not Buying This and the intro to Won’t Do What They Say, that’s it. They potentially sail into those waters again in the Faith No More-style Worst Version. The rest of the album is a sunny, beer-drinking kind of affair. Loads of Californian pop punk, ska and reggae, and positive energy. The lyrics lean positive too, at least mostly.
I like that the album works well as a whole. It’s made to be listened to from the first to the last track, no skipping. Of course it doesn’t hit as hard and deep as Against the Gravity, but that comes down to the personal state of mind of the guy writing these lines, different musical emphases, and last but not least the production, which is excellent and serves the album well, but is less raw and at the same time less bombastic than on that 2009 record.
Shall we say a word or two about the musicians? I’ve already mentioned Marty: he sticks to the script on rhythm and riffs, but cuts loose in the solos and lets a bit of metal spirit out of the bottle. Soki is a Slovenian drumming legend, and together with bassist Slavc he gives the songs the rhythmic movement they need. And Buda perfected his soft, melodic vocal style down to the last detail a decade or so ago anyway, so no surprises there.
I have to single out Life Should Be Fun, which with its melancholy, lazy reggae rhythm and slightly morbid melody strays far from the album’s general color palette. The punchy pop punk tune Pouring Rain conjures up a hot sunny day by the river, while the ska bouncers Pissing In the Wind and Whistle Song force you to shake your backside. Least convincing are the slightly too linear little numbers Do It Again and Let Me In, but they fit nicely into the album’s overall sonic picture.
The Đeksoni took 10 years for this album, so I hope we get the next one by 2030. You can never have too much world-class music done the coastal-Styrian way 🙂
Beer in hand, backside in a lounger on a warm summer day, and this album on the stereo. Pure pleasure guaranteed!
Rating: 8/10
Sweet picks: Life Should Be Fun, Pissing In the Wind, Pouring Rain
Author: Igorac
Tracklist:
01. Not Buying This (3:48)
02. Won’t Do What They Say (2:49)
03. Do It Again (3:50)
04. Whistle Song (3:58)
05. Let Me In (3:51)
06. Worst Version (4:57)
07. Pissing In the Wind (2:21)
08. We Play 4 You (3:43)
09. Pouring Rain (3:24)
10. Wash Away (3:27)
11. Life Should Be Fun (3:38)
Musicians:
David Kovšca – Buda: vocals
Marty Favento: guitars
Erik Makuc – Slavc: bass
Marko Soršak – Soki: drums
Guest musician:
Martin Janežič – Buco: percussion on Life Should Be Fun
Technical crew:
Production and mixing: Bojan Pahljina & Elvis Jackson
Mastering: Bojan Pahljina
Editing: Jasmin Alisević
Cover design: Ohoroho
