Punk Rock Factory
Masters of the Uniwurst

There’s an 80’s (or 90’s) kid inside of all of us, and Punk Rock Factory recognizes this and takes it to heart on Masters of the Uniwurst, a punk rock compilation of sped-up TV theme songs from yesteryear. The compilation takes the soul of the beauty of the 80’s and 90’s themes and adds a delicious punk rock twist to the mix that ends up being a hell of a lot of fun to listen through. While some may say it’s simply the nostalgia that makes these songs endearing, I’d beg to differ and state that these “jingles” were in need of a need outlet to really appreciate them for what they are. Your summer soundtrack to your childhood has arrived.

Led by a brief intro called, “The Adventure Begins,” Punk Rock Factory (comprised of Peej on vocals and guitar, Benj on bass and backing vocals, Ryan on guitar and Kob on drums and backing vocals) launches into the track that aligns with some of the characters on the cover art, with “Thundercats.” The band, which formed in 2014, is incredibly tight, focused, and not to mention, hilariously on-point as they bring these themes to life. Other early standouts like “Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers” and “Goof Troop” are dripping with childhood nostalgia, as much as they sound re-energized through the lens of a punk rock song.

TV themes in general lend themselves best to this genre of music, since most of the songs clock in under the two-minute mark, which isn’t unheard of for punk rock, by any means. My personal favorites from the compilation were the takes on “Darkwing Duck,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Saved by the Bell,” and the rockin’ album closer of “He-Man” to tie the theme of Masters of the Uniwurst all together.

While this compilation may not get a ton of repeat spins from my record collection, it’s a fun little trip down memory lane to take that will surely put a smile on the face of even the biggest curmudgeon. The band has launched an online store for this compilation with purchase options of CD, cassette, and vinyl.