Skeptic Eleptic

By Laura Robida

It seems that if you're looking for raw, dirty, garage punk there's only one place to turn these days – across the Atlantic to Europe. Skeptic Eleptic from Austria has captured the electric draw of garage punk and they've put together a sound that seems to be often imitated but rarely duplicated. Along the lines of bands like The New Bomb Turks, The Hellacopters, The Cramps, and The Hives, Skeptic Eleptic shines as a band on the rise.  Filled with addicting riffs, simple yet memorable melodies, and enough energy to start a mosh pit, Skeptic Eleptic creates punk/garage rock that would be equally at home on rock radio and dance floors.

In true punk rock fashion, the band members have all adopted false names but that's all that's fake about Skeptic Eleptic. Lead vocalist and lyricist Dorian Stone delivers his lines in true garage punk fashion, sounding strikingly familiar. Bassist Mots T. Sux is also a standout force behind the band, providing a driving and grooving bass line which propels Skeptic Eleptic from being just another punk band to a punk band with an impossibly addicting groove. We'd be amiss if we didn't note the perfect compliments of Mr. Doc Brown's guitar and the tight drumming style of Thoms'n Roll.

And while their name may make you think that Skeptic Eleptic is a band that's making dance floor hits, this is a band that's down and dirty with their punk and garage band roots. If you drop into their Myspace page, take some time out and explore their music player. The band has posted five tracks from their 2008 release "Get Addicted" released by independent label Dambuster Records out of Austria. Punk label Dambuster is also responsible for releases by The Cretins, The Asstronauts, The GOGETS and HDNX.

If you're short on time and can't manage to listen to the band's entire player, pay particular attention to punk anthems "Atomic" and "Addicted." Of course we suggest sticking around for the entire player. "Eddie," "One More Day" and "Don't Like You" are all more than worthy of their respective slots on the playlist. After checking out the player, we're pretty sure that you'll be "a.d.d.i  – c.t.e.d."

Editor's Note: Skeptic Eleptic has more than a handful of shows around Austria this summer. If you happen to find yourself there, be sure to check out a show. You can check out Skeptic Eleptic on Myspace at www.myspace.com/skepticeleptic.