7/10

Ever since he first broke through with his brilliant debut LP 'Keepin' It Sleezy' in 2020, US artist LJ Sleeze has been on a mission to bring back the sludgier side to the punk-rock sound. Taking cues from that classic guitar-driven sound and blending it with some catchy hooks at every turn, his output to date has been a fun and lively affair that always looks to push the boundaries of his aesthetic as far as they will go. And after 2022's 'STAY SLEEZY' continued that venture in fine form, he now returns with his latest studio album 'Dead Or Alive', a record that turns the energy up to eleven.

Much like what his recent output has shown us, 'Dead Or Alive' is another rip-roaring array of punk anthems from start to finish. Creating this era-spanning sound that looks to borrow from the entire spectrum of the genre over the decades, his latest ten-track collection brims with this tenacious attitude as he makes light work of each and every track here. Continuing that innovative spirit he has always looked to adopt, LJ Sleeze has returned to the fold with one of his most enjoyable offerings yet, one that will have you pumping your fists from beginning to end.

He may still be operating in the peripheries of the scene right now, but 'Dead Or Alive' feels like the beginning of a bigger and more ambitious LJ Sleeze. Oozing with this vibrant momentum across every single cut, he feels like a name we should be keeping a very close eye on for the months ahead as well.