4 Way Split (EP)

Various Artists

Pirates Press Records, 2019

REVIEW BY: Tom Haugen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 04/01/2020

As a teenage music enthusiast, I spent a small fortune on compilation records, trying to discover new bands to fill my unending thirst for all things punk rock related. Unfortunately for me, the vast majority of those records were filled with poor sound quality, even worse songs, and, in the grand tradition of all things punk, a lot of racket. my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

However, when the Pirates Press label puts together a various artists release, they're on an entirely different level. Here, four of the most exciting outfits in today's streetpunk and Oi! scene come together with new songs on an eye catching EP that visually and musically top notch.

The quick listen starts with Antagonizers ATL, where “Marching On” leads with melodic guitar work and a kinetic rhythm section as the slightly gravelly vocals complement the anthemic setting that's somewhere in between mosh worthy and pogo punk. “Alerta! Alerta!,” by Spain legends Crim, then follows and brings a bristling pace of hardcore punk meets street punk as throaty vocals and backing growls complement the incendiary environment.

Side B is just as great. It starts with the intense and thundering quality of Noi$se's “Lies,” where acrobatic drumming aligns with swirling guitars on the raw track, and “Never Forget” ends the listen with a more restrained approach that's no less powerful in its old school punk nods as Rude Pride exit the EP perfectly.

This is an ideal starting point if you've never heard of these bands and names like Leatherface, Street Dogs, Rancid, and Dropkick Murphys get your blood pressure rising as you search for the nearest stage to dive off of. The only complaint I could come up with about this record is that it's just too damn short. Thankfully, repeated plays settle in quite nicely and only increase the likelihood you'll explore their other work, too.

Rating: A-

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