The punk rock trio, Codefendants, have released the follow-up to 2023’s This is Crime Wave in the form of LIFERS, released via Regime Music Group, and heralded by the gritty and fast-paced single ‘The Fix."
Composed of NOFX’s Fat Mike, Get Dead vocalist Sam King, and rapper Ceschi Ramos, Codefendants unknowingly formed in Berkeley, California after a chance encounter between the aforementioned. The trio later decided to craft an album that defied all genre-norms, birthing a subgenre of their own (they call it Crime Wave) and leading to the creation of their debut album This is Crime Wave.This complete disregard for genre, blending punk rock and hip hop primarily, is on full display on ‘The Fix," and meshes the two genres together with a level of seamlessness, fluidity, and poise that’s pretty rare amongst artists who attempt to occupy a similar lane. However, the trio also manage to stay true to the aesthetics and musical dynamism that each genre brings to the table; a creative balancing act that pays off big time and is sure to appeal to fans of both punk rock and hip hop equally.
‘The Fix" opens with speedy, hard-hitting drums before introducing retro-tinged synths that remain constant throughout the track. This persists for a few bars to acquaint listeners with the vibe of the song before King’s distorted, Billy Joe Armstrong-esque vocals slide into the instrumental, melding perfectly against the aforementioned drum/synth combination.
“Like you, I’m stuck here and bored to death too / Give me drugs, give me sex, fix these issues that make me bleed,” King begins, immediately introducing the central theme of escapism that the song touches on. Laced between King’s gritty vocals are these groovy keyboard stabs that feel reminiscent of 80s rock, but it works surprisingly well, and adds a very dance-worthy energy to the track.
The anthemic chorus sees King fully embracing his tendency to be a “self-destructive hot shot” and his inability to contend with his daily issues without the titular fix, backed by the introduction of heavy guitar chords and a single, pulsing piano note that feels somewhat digital; almost giving the vibe of a radar of some sort. It all comes together to create a chaotic, headbanging chorus that’s sure to leave listeners wanting more every time it goes away.
The second verse sees Ramos coming in with a verse whose flow and tone feel reminiscent of Stefan Burnett of Death Grips, all while maintaining the upbeat and cheeky nature established by King’s verse prior. The verse feels like a natural extension of King’s as Ramos expands on the hardships that King briefly mentioned in his verse.
“Realize that this life will never be stable / married to a h*e that’ll put me in the grave, I know / Many times I f***ed around and found out / Chipped teeth, broken bones, blood in my mouth,” Ramos explains before the chorus bursts back in, eventually devolving into a bridge that feels like an auditory light show; a soaring synth solo aided by an additional electric guitar that weightlessly glides through the track generate one of the most danceable and energetic moments of the track.
Eventually, the band reel themselves back in for one final verse shared by both King and Ramos, who match each other's energy so well that, on first listen, it’s difficult to actually discern who’s speaking at any given moment. The song concludes with one final chorus, accented by a backing refrain of “I just need a fix” by Ramos.
All in all, ‘The Fix" is a fantastic and succinct listen by a band whose fusion of punk rock and hip hop aesthetics shouldn’t be overlooked. Codefendants are poised to leave a lasting mark on both genres.
