Labels: Specialist Subject
Review by: Matthew Green
This little 7″ is a comp release in order to promote some of the British bands playing at THE FEST, which encapsulates one track from each of the four bands being OK Pilot, The Arteries, Bangers & Brothers. From the get go anyone reading this is probably well aware that all these bands fit well within the pop/gruff punk category. However; each of the bands are distinctive vocally and instrumentally. I will come out and say that I am not a huge fan of the genre but wanted to hear something different so here is my analysis: Bangers play that Jawbreaker-y gruffness with tougher vocals which are perhaps a bit too OTT for me but I think the music isn’t too bad and I like the chunky power chords that they use in their song. Arteries however steal the show with just how visceral and nasty their track is, when I saw them play with Fucked Up they were like a completely different beast, more like a pop punk band than the hardcore influenced Lifetime style mess that they use on this track. OK Pilot are a bit more rocky as well but certainly have some more intricate guitar parts in their song as they don’t just play around with the same old three-chord formulae, and I like the raspy vocals. The track by Brothers track sort of passed me by to be honest but I remember the vocals again being pretty cool, very rough and punk rock. Check them out for a better analysis – but if you’re going to get this record get it for that awesome Arteries track.