China Drum are coming from England and this little EP contains four songs. The common thread of all songs is 1st Avenue which is part of all song titles. Music is melodic punk, a bit rawer but with lots of pop punk influences in the song structures. Guitars are murkier and rawer, bass is pretty loud in the overall production but it all fits just perfectly. Vocals have that raspy, harsher vibe to themselves but sing melodic and they are just perfect for bands like this one. Of all four songs my personal favorites are ‘Can’t Stop 1st Ave’, and also ‘Last Chance 1st Ave’. This is a nice little melodic punk/pop punk EP. I would love to hear more from this band.
Sprainer released their debut seven song EP and these guys are hailing from Peterborough, UK. This little EP and songs on it contain everything I love about this music. It contains tight musicianship and mixture of catchy pop punk with harshness of melodic hardcore influences and also skate punk in many song structures. Lyrics are smartly written and deal with every day themes like loneliness, searching and striving for more, ethics, morality and knowing when to depart if necessary. Music is faster and uplifting, like late nineties and early 2000s pop punk/melodic punk influenced bands with great vocals, voice that stays in your mind and ear long time after listening to this little record. My personal favorites are: ‘Cut Thumbs’, ‘Tentacles’ and ‘I Hate My Job’. Good melodic record by good band.
Newport Ave are from West Australia and I still think that I have much to explore about their underground punk scene which delivers so many great punk and hardcore releases all the time. Anyway, this little EP contains five songs, one being kind of instrumental intro called ‘Meet Me After Tryouts, We Need To Talk’. Then the record continues with one of my personal favorites pop punk/melodic punk anthem ‘Travel Pants’ with emotional vocals, mid tempo melodies and lyrics about being who you are not hiding behind mask and costume. ‘Mutiny Scrutiny’ is a surf punk influenced noisy little miniature with haiku lyrics but great melody at the end of the song about losing mind hehe. Other one of my personal favorites is ‘Medusa Seducer’, song about hypocrisy and fake love and affection with great guitar melodies and anthemic feel, true pop punk hymn. The production is great, I love harsher sound of guitars and vocals are cool for this kind of punk rock. ‘Cofee Cart Broken Heart’ speaks about separation and longing and going on with your life and this is a great little EP and I love every single minute of it.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 