My first reaction upon hearing the beginning of the first song was "Therapy?" and "Urge Overkill" merged to form "Welt." Not true as the story goes, but if you put the two styles together, there's a pretty fair idea of where "Welt" comes from with their music. The Orange County California punk rockers with "Broke Down" are taking their third shot at the big time in what is their most accomplished work to date. Produced by the tandem of Bill Stevenson and Stephan Egerton at The Blasting Room, it had to have been almost like a premonition for good things to happen. If the music on "Broke Down's" any indication, the "Welt" should soon slowly rise beneath the surface of the skin of popular music to pose a real threat of infection to the otherwise cleansed version of alternative that hasn't been thoroughly rid of yet.

The songs on "Broke Down" are varied, but most depend on quick-wristed electric guitar strumming, with clear vocals, similar in rhythm to "Social Distortion." It's good to hear new bands coming out that are getting away from this sugar coated punk fashion and back into letting loose much like the forefathers of the movement. The songs stem from the personal views of singer Jason Cooper, involving struggles and problems same as we all have. What's different about this one is you get the impression that they're sincere. It's not an in and out bitch-fest where the parties exclaim "Hey look at me, I'm from the gutter and I've got all these problems," when you really know that in truth, the bastards have it much better than we ever will - get real man!

The song titles are simple and to the point. "Broken," "Lost Time," "Get Lost," all very good by the way, the well sung "Something to Believe In," the aggressive "delivery" of "Rhetoric," "Feel the Same," "See it Through," and "Stand," all with no evidence of a political slant, unlike many of their predecessors from yesterday. Personal favorites of mine include the first, last, and next to last tracks, "Broken, "Wrong," and "Can't Believe," but then I've always been a sucker for melodic music played without restraint.

"Brokedown" contains all of the essence of true punk rock with less of the nonsense and outrageous personality characteristics employed to get noticed - not that there's anything wrong with that necessarily. It just doesn't work for everyone. And, like a quick strap to the back of the neck, "Broken" will leave its mark very professionally, while the band sets on their way for the acclamation that's finally due them.