Tracks such as вЂњWorking ManвЂќ show the band havenвЂ™t forgotten their class-conscious roots. While some songs on World YouвЂ™re Living In, such as the pleading, heartfelt вЂњSuicide,вЂќ are a clear lyrical departure from BonecrusherвЂ™s output, a timeless sense of angst is retained throughout the album. вЂњSheвЂ™s fighting it, and sheвЂ™s coming back from it, so IвЂ™m truly amazed.вЂќ вЂњMusic hits when youвЂ™re in ruin or when somethingвЂ™s happening in your life, and youвЂ™ve just got to write about it,вЂќ he explains.ДЇortunately, the two are looking forward to healthier days. When his fiancГ©e, Wendy, was diagnosed with cancer, he felt frustration, stress and a plethora of other emotions, which he dealt with in the best way he knew how. This approach has led Raybo to something he says heвЂ™d never imagined: singing punk-rock love songs. I write songs about the world around me and what I see.вЂќ I try to uplift people with music, instead of just going up there and playing a set and not giving a shit. вЂњI just sing about family and having good times. вЂњIвЂ™m so fed up with politics and bullshit like that,вЂќ Raybo says. But the Divided write much more personal songs. Bonecrusher has always been a political band, as evidenced by 1998вЂ™s Working for Nothing and 1999вЂ™s Problems In the Nation. Perhaps the biggest change for the Divided is their lyrical content. вЂњWe had to get in as soon as we could, before we split up or something else happens.вЂќ The band were quick to hop in the studio after forming just more than a year ago, which Raybo says adds to the resulting albumвЂ™s energy. вЂњI canвЂ™t stop talking about him,вЂќ Raybo says. He even filled the front man role for Bonecrusher while Raybo was off the mainland. Singing while drumming with such energy is no simple feat, but Lysek is a master. The percussionist plays heavy-handed rolls, flavorful fills and thrashing beats, all at a breakneck pace. вЂњSo we really hit the backing vocals in the studio, and it worked well.вЂќД®qual parts technically proficient and passionate, itвЂ™s fair to say that Lysek is the bandвЂ™s engine. вЂњNoah does these primal screams, and it sounded so good that we all started doing it,вЂќ Raybo says. And hearty group vocals on choruses and even simple вЂњohвЂќs encompass the spirit of such bands as the Angelic Upstarts and early Dropkick Murphys. Melodic guitar lines reminiscent of late-вЂ™90s/early-2000s groups such as the Unseen and early Anti-Flag add another layer. RayboвЂ™s voice ranges from an intimidating growl to a gruff, soulful croon. The new band, which now includes Chris Lohman on bass, mix together a variety of influences without losing an ounce of punk urgency. The DividedвЂ™s sound is significantly more diverse than BonecrusherвЂ™s. Then Brian called me up and said, вЂLetвЂ™s form a band.вЂ™вЂќ Thus, the Divided were born. But music just wasnвЂ™t coming out the way I wanted it, and I kind of lost contact with them. I was looking for guys to play with, so I went back to guys. вЂњI moved there for a couple of years and started surfing. вЂњI was living in the islands,вЂќ he explains. Since then, theyвЂ™ve released 10 full-length albums and even more singles and EPs.Д«onecrusher has undergone numerous lineup changes over the years, one of the most notable of which happened when front man Raybo moved to Hawaii. A self-described вЂњworking-class band,вЂќ their blistering street-punk sound and class-conscious lyrics made them a staple in OC since forming in 1992. Guitarists Pat Hall and Brian Celi, drummer Noah Lysek, and legendary baritone Raybo are well-seasoned from their years with the prolific punk outfit Bonecrusher. As a whole, the album harks back to a distinctively heavy OC punk sound of the 1990s as well as takes a creative step forward for the outfit. But their debut record, World YouвЂ™re Living In, which was released last month through Huntington BeachвЂ™s Hostage Records, also bears healthy doses of melodic hardcore and even some bluesy rock. With thick, crunchy guitar riffs precise, pounding drums and plenty of powerful group vocals, their sound is reminiscent of classic working-class вЂњoi!вЂќ groups. Photo courtesy Divided have all the makings of a solid street-punk band.

Punk rock love songs