Maximum Penalty’s ‘Life & Times’ music video directed by Don Capria

There are a few artifacts that I can say I’ve cherished and held on to over the years.  Just to name a few,  that puppy love letter from my first ‘real’ girlfriend, the Mongoose with mini-turbo seat and yellow Skyway Tuff 2 mags and the choker chain worn by my favorite black lab (R.I.P. Ms. Money Penny). But to add to this list of nostalgic childhood heirlooms is a demo tape from 89′ that’s been through it all – literally.  The first MAXIMUM PENALTY release (mine was a TDK cassette – proly a dub) which was passed my way back during Sophomore year in high school is something that I will never part with. Yes, 20yrs ago that would be. And here we are in 2009 and the guys from MP are still grinding it out!!!
The album, ‘LIFE & TIMES’, might very well be the best hardcore album of 2009. Inspiration of the album is definitely influenced by the harsh realities of life but more so the relentless drive to persevere all hurdles that one may encounter during their journey.  It is their first release in over a half a decade – 7 years to be exact.  However, as we’ve all heard this expression before, like a wonderfully aged bottle of Boone’s Farm, Maximum Penalty has only gotten better with time.

This is an album that can be viewed by younger generations as a personal footpath to living life.  The best thing about this album is that MP did it there way.  As many bands may try to emulate what is currently going on in music, Maximum Penalty said fuck all the bullshit and stayed with the original hardcore formula – which means not giving a shit about what anyone thinks.  Veteran fans like myself, as well as new comers to hardcore, both get an equal dose of old school flavor.  There’s definitely something to say for a group of dudes still putting out classic hardcore music for nearly a quarter century, right?

Maximum Penalty has just released their first ‘music video’ ever which was directed by Don Capria (Skarhead “D.F.F.” & Danny Diablo “Don’t You Want Me?”). You can, and should, get this album at either iTunes or at Reaper Records.