Mr. Brett Gurewitz, owner of Epitaph Records, seems to have taken some pointers from NOFX's Fat Mike as far as label- representative compilations are concerned; prior Punk-O-Rama volumes didn't have much to offer beyond the typical 13 odd tracks, but this newest collection boasts a weighty 25 slabs of musical titillation. Gurewitz's ex- band, Bad Religion, successfully captured the conflict between quality and quantity, so the obvious question at this point is which category Punk-O-Rama III falls into. Well, let's weigh the representative acts on an individual basis, shall we?

Cheers go out to the following: NOFX, All, the Bouncing Souls, H20, Agnostic Front, New Bomb Turks, Down By Law, Bad Religion, and Pennywise. Jeers are reserved for the likes of Voodoo Glow Skulls, Straight Faced, Zeke, the Humpers, and Gas Huffer. What pattern is evident here? Veteran acts of Epitaph and bands that have been well- established prior to signing with the label are the winners, but substantial and exciting new- blood is virtually non- existent. It's almost as if Gurewitz, high on the unexpected success of the Offspring, decided to ignore his effectively particular past choices in return for as many mediocre, uninspiring, and regular- sounding bands as possible. Epitaph used to represent a very pioneering and influential sound, but as of late, they've embodied more disappointment than not.

Some exceptions should be noted. Bands such as Osker and I Against I suggest that Epitaph still has a knack of introducing promising new outfits. Otherwise, Punk-O-Rama III is most notable in that it includes previously unreleased tracks from Epitaph heavyweights NOFX and Pennywise.

If you're seeking a strong compilation composed of your favorite bands, this collection is average at best. If you're trying to obtain an educated sense of where Epitaph is heading as a label, this is a fairly accurate depiction, though the forecast leaves a lot to be desired.

-Kevin Ruggeri