Pope Adrian 37th

For the first time in over 15 years, this is a Peni record that I've really liked the first time I heard it. The last was Cacophony back in 1988 or whenever it was released. Years later they released Pope Adriatic, and I really disliked it on first blush. And second blush, and third blush... Eventually it grew on me and I came to enjoy it. But the next two records, Echoes of Anguish and The Underclass, have been out for a few years now and I've never warmed up to either of them. RP sounded very bored and "going through the motions" to me on those records, even though they were obviously trying hard to ape their own performances on Deathchurch and Farce. I can't put my finger on exactly why, but Archaic sounds to me like the best RP has done been a very, very long time. The writing, the playing, the singing, it all comes together in classic Peni fashion.EDIT 4/23/14: Wow, this really weird. I'm taking a trip down memory lane, looking through my old reviews, and I notice that this one has somehow been moved over to the wrong record. This review was for Archaic, not Pope Adrian. What the hell?

This CD is mainly power chords and the deeper, angrier sounding voice of Nick Blinko. Completely different than RP's earlier albums such as "EP's of RP" or "Cacophony." It's slower and much heavier than their previous works. I'd say an average of 12 words repeated in each song (not the most profound lyrics)If you have taken a listen to the sound previews, pretty much all the songs sound the same... and they are pretty much are. Also, none of Blinko's amazing artwork will be coming with the lyrics booklet. Just white lyrics written on a black page. But hey, RP's a little bit older, little bit more tamed. Still worth a listen or two. If you are more into anarcho punk, listen to the albums mentioned.

'Archaic EP' (Released 2004 / 12 Tracks) The most-recent 12-track EP from RP has a heavy, driving sound with the type of wordplay lyrics that makes RP so entertaining. The ultra-minimalist style which has been developing since c. 1995 is here realized in a concise 15 1/2 minute EP of classic RP; even the artwork is distilled yet typical. They've somehow managed to retain the recent heavy metal / acid rock sound, and yet make it seem like classic anarcho-punk. After a few listens, you'll be convinced you're listening to long-lost RP from the early days... but just not quite. How anybody could not love this release is beyond me.

Considering the delusions that Nick Blinko was having at the time, of which concept this album is based on, I think the production aesthetic was completely new and avant-garde... or should I say avant-garble. With all due respect.If you like Peni give this time it will grow on you if you take the time to get lost in the madness. The fact that they put a loop on repeat over the background across the whole album should not only contest to Nick's psychosis at the time, but also make you suspect the rest of the band is a bit batty too.While I was initially shocked and aghast by this offering, I have come to love this through knowledge gained. Almost as much as I love my favorite Peni album, Cacophony, which I hated even more than this on the first spin in my young dumber years.Cheers!

Some people love this album and some people hate it. Even amongst fans of RP, Pope Adrian is looked upon with disdain. However, one thing that you cannot deny, even if you hate this album is the fact that it is real, raw and utterly psychotic. And for me that's exactly what I like about it. The band blasts and pounds away while vocalist/guitarist Nick Blinko barks and shouts repetitive sentences and words pertaining to his delusions of being pope, while the phrase "papus Adrianus" is repeated continuously throughout the albums entirety. If you like your music out of the ordinary, you can't get any better than this.

As a fan since the first record in 1981, every time this band releases something there is a fair reason to celebrate this is in no way a lesser party. I give this a 4 because it is still better then anything most people will ever put out but still comes second to the first 3 Peni releases, or two rleases if one is counting the first two EPs as one (which is how it was issued on CD).Archaic is in the same league as Underclass and Echo's. It is a straight ahead kill shot with out fattty loose ends. There are no loopy moments here and the band still sounds as disturbed and gristled as ever. Anyone who likes the last two outings by Rudimentary Peni will like this one.

As surreal as this may sound, the album has nothing to do with music composition or how long, fast or punk the tracks may be. This record is seen as a perfect window into the deamons of Nick Blinko's brain. As written inbetween psych ward visits, it is a main course from the criminally insane. and boy is it yummy:)

'Pope Adrian 37th' (Released 1995 / 12 Tracks) Just under 1/2 hour of themed music, the entire EP set against a droning RP voice chanting "Pappas Adrianus... Pappas Adrianus... Pappas Adrianus..."; one of the stranger punk EPs of all time, yet strangely compelling. It took me a few listens to really get into this EP, but something about it always brings me back. This was a turning point for the band--after seven years of inactivity it was widely assumed they were no more. Also, with this release RP adopts their apparently formulaic schedule of one 12-track EP every couple of years.

Just as good as the original, will recommend great item great seller