Labels: Antikorper Export – Brassneck – just say no to government music – Lost Cat – Pumpkin Records
Review by: Alex Hannan
The seeds of Bay Area melodic punk took strong root in Manchester – back in the era of BORN AGAINST frenzy, Manchester was giving us the BLATZ / GRIMPLE influences of GROVER – and ever since there have been Mancunian bands preserving grit along with melody and avoiding the over-polished pop-punk sound. HOLIDAY continue that tradition, with punchy, catchy takes on familiar handfuls of chords. They’re the type of songs you’ll remember after a couple of exposures live. This is their debut vinyl EP, based around the same tracks as the one they self released at the end of 2012.
The EP sounds great, rich distortion on the twin guitars and the rattling, rapid fire drum fills coming through clear, the whole thing recalling a beefed up CRIMPSHRINE. Opener “Missiles on the roof” shows these songs have been in the pipeline for a while, the sunny melody holding lyrical barbs about the militarization and patriotism underlying the London Olympics’ PR sheen. Subtle but neat touches in the songwriting keep things interesting, like the melodic outro that elevates the simple verse-chorus structure into a fully rounded song. There’s also an occasional LEATHERFACE-y turn, like the middle eight of clipped, spiky dual guitar work in “They said we could have everything in the Argos catalogue.”
A couple of the songs on the EP seem to work better live – “Lunch break” lowers the pace and drags a little here despite a memorable intro which you’ll recognize if you’ve seen them play – “sick and fuckin’ tired of the drudgery / everybody wants to make some money / I’m looking at the clock wishing my life away / I’m scared, I’m scared, I’m skint.” “Sunshine” is the catchiest tune on the EP, but sounds as if the whole thing could do with capo’ing a couple of notches up to suit Paul, the vocalist. He’s working in the lower part of his range, where it’s harder to get power behind the vocals, and sounds a bit swamped by the backing. Good song, though.
Lyrically he comes across as a politicised dreamer, dealing with the drudgery of everyday life in “Lunch break” and the sense of a system set up for the benefit of others in “…Argos catalogue”, but also finding positivity and space to imagine better, capable of seeing “life find its way through these heavy railways, blankets of steel and stone.”
All in all, a great start, and look forward to hearing new songs recorded – a split 7″ with EPIC PROBLEM is due next.