The little know but hugely influential heroes of the UK punk scene are re-releasing their first album. Travis Cut played their first show in 1993, opening for D.O.A in London, and followed it up with a slew of shows across the country and even named a Record Of The Week on Steve Lamacq’s Radio 1 show. With several handfuls of singles, countless compilations, and extensive UK, Japanese, US, and European tours — sharing the stages with the greats of the ’90s punk scene — Travis Cut decided to call it quits at that moment.
Now, 25 years later, Travis Cut are re-releasing their debut Serial Incompetence today, January 22.
UK Punk Legends Travis Cut are Re-releasing Their First Album Serial Incompetence for Their 25th Anniversary for Digital Download Only
Heavily influenced by classic US melodic hardcore and punk, Travis Cut also found a link to their British punk scene with influences such as Husker Du and The Clash. The original line-up of Mac, Alex, and Chris that hit stages a quarter of a century ago are again hitting a few stages to celebrate this milestone.
Serial Incompetence has everything today’s punk scene is lacking — the roots. The punk of Travis Cut stays true to quick and easy chords that are distorted, layered with hard and fast drumming, bass lines that add just enough depth, and angsty vocals — the very things that separated punk from everything else happening musically in the ’80s and’ 90s (I’m looking at you, disco).
You can listen to the entirety of Serial Incompetence in under a half hour. From “Electric Retarder” to “No Static,” you’re taken through everything that made punk the scene it is today. And while you may not think of Travis Cut when you think about the punk scene that was budding and developing across the pond, you can clearly hear how the band had an impact on what punk was, is, and will always be.
Four albums and ten years later, Travis Cut released a string of important tracks for the blooming new punk scene. You can even hear influences the band may have had on today’s scene through their distorted sound and true ’80s punk roots.
