Killball is a concept album about a sport of the future. Killball, the sport, is roughly like American football, except each team is forced to use PCP and then each player is armed with a switchblade and a hammer. This record approximates the experience of playing Killball, complete with halftime theme, two-minute warning intensity music, and the victory cheer. It’s all very well-conceived and executed.

You may know that Friends Forever are that band that plays in their van. That’s correct, they set up and play in their van in the parking lot of the club. There is even a movie about these guys. But I must say that the muscle of their music is not overshadowed by the gimmick of their game. The utter ridiculousness and impracticality with which they adhere to their mission is either a sign of commendable dedication to artistry or an ill-conceived stab at indie credibility. No, I think it’s actually the best display of a real sense of humor and showmanship that any American group has shown in a long, long time.

I must re-stress that this music stands alone, apart from the “touring band” thing. It’s punk as hell and heavy-hitting, with non-stop drums and serrated synth textures. The halftime song is pretty stupid, though, and it’s made worse by the fact that it concludes side one and opens up side two. It goes to show you just how dedicated Friends Forever are to their concepts…but it’s the weakest spot on the record.

I can easily recommend this record to anyone who likes Devo, other Load artists (especially Neon Hunk or Lightning Bolt), and jocks.

- Sean Witzman