10 tracks, 20:50, averaging out to 2:05. Released in 2000. 5 piece old school punk band from West Medford, Oregon. First recording in 1996, this is Virus Nine’s second CD. They are major enough to have played shows with the L.E.S. Stitches, The US Bombs, and the Dayglo Abortions. Amazingly professional sounding punk band with horrendously catchy choruses and a pulsating bass line laid down by Danny Machine. The guitars, played by Josh Chaos and Silas the Virus, are by no means mediocre at all, in fact they kick ass just as much as the amazing vocals and bass. O can say without hesitation that this band is the best think to ever come out of Oregon. The songs are short, so as to not get repetitive, and it works very well for them. They even have included a lyrics sheet so I can understand what Mike’s extremely fast voice is saying “March of the Thugs” starts out with a wonderful modification of the ancient song “Ants go matching in” with an awesome fucking bass line to boot. I mean, the guitar to this song is impressive, but the bass on this song just opens your eyes. These guys will get even bigger then they are now, and take over the underground. They are as if Rancid mixed with the Dropkick Murphies if you multiplied that by a talent factor of 200. Virus Nine is the best pure-punk band that I have heard since I restarted my magazine back in November. Out of the collection of songs, 10 in all, there isn’t even a weak one. For a punk band like this, you usually expect a trade off when there is a CD this good, say like amazing music at the expense of lyrics. There is none of that on this disc. All bases are covered, and there are no breachable spots on Virus Nine’s armor. While some of the songs seem destined for campiness, Virus Nine is talented enough to avoid that pitfall. I guess the only thing left to say about this album that it just is too short, as I want more of this band, and undoubtedly, you the reading audience, will as well. “Fight Back!”, the secret track, is just another of the amazing tracks put out by this band. The highest part of this song is the speaking of various political issues that will just cause a chill to run down your spine. Buy this album. Go to their website at http://www.geocities.com/virus_nine, email them at [email protected],m or write them at PO Box 5605, Central Point, OR 97502