At a time when absurdities that belong in satire are slowly making their way into reality, a group like the Swedish post-punk band Viagra Boys have their subjects for the taking. Gun ownership, anti-vaxers, Trump, conservatives, anything that arouses frustration in the band has to suffer. The energetic punk songs, with elements of electro, industrial, jazz - and so on - are full of anger and cynicism
… but also of humor and general corny. In Troglodyte the band sings about a man who doesn't believe in science and is quietly planning a shooting spree against all of his colleagues, only to note that according to evolutionary theory this underdeveloped organism wouldn't make it anyway. In Return To Monke, vaccine opponents and people with a great fear of the 5G network are offered a solution to all their problems: eat a banana and start living like a monkey again. No one will expect subtle or sophisticated lyrics or music from a group called Viagra Boys. And while there is quite a bit to chuckle about from time to time, the men are certainly serious. (JV)more
