Since their formation in 1980, The Vandals have combined pummelling drums, crisp riffing and sneered lyrics into potent pop-punk. They explore their homeland of Southern California with wit that sometimes tips into the surreal, with cuts like “Pirate’s Life”, which chronicles a Disneyland trip gone wrong, and the pounding “Cafe 405”, a tale of found love in a shopping centre food court, embracing the Golden State’s tarnished side with glee. The Vandals’ blend of sardonic humour and fast-paced rock has influenced countless bands around the world—and four decades on, they’re still enticing people into the pit.
