WERECATS | THE ATOMS | SKIMMER | THE CRASH MATS
3 CHORDS 2 TEETH
What’s that? Horn & Hoof Records compiling a split EP featuring four of England’s finest punk acts? Don’t mind if I do.
London quartet Werecats are first up to the plate. You Will Love Me is an enjoyably breezy, melodic tune with a lively stroke to it and pretty good harmonies, but it’s a shame that the ballistic Pizza Tramp is as short as it is because it would have been awesome to see it expanded upon in full glory, but as is, a sweet way to begin.
Derby trio The Atoms take the wheel now and aren’t hesitant in being brutal in the lovingly spiteful I Hope She Dies, featuring cracking riffs too, and similarly, Steve Is A Smackrat is damn catchy and hooking, so overall, a top notch pair of contributions.
Brummie group Skimmer kick off with Cinders, where everything on the instrumental side of things is excellent and the vocals are fresh, and they crank up the tempo for the decent Anastasia. More worthy additions here.
And finally are Oldham ska punk threesome The Crash Mats, who open with You’re A Loose Cannon which is a quick and blinding track with dynamic rugged guitars, and they only get better with the awesomely entertaining, full-frontal Curry Party.
Clearly, the best were saved for last, making for a banging conclusion to a damn fine assortment headed by a bunch of acts that every punk fan should definitely be giving the time of day.
SMALL MUSIC SCENE 