High Five Drive is pretty much an unknown commodity in the UK; a solidly impressive band with an ethos of hard work and hard touring, yet somehow managing to remain under the radar of just about everyone. As I write this the band is finishing up a short, hardly media glistened, UK jaunt before heading back to mainland Europe in support of this, the band’s third full length release.
‘Full Blast’ is essentially a punk-rock album, although a series of layers means it’s anything but ‘by the numbers’. It’s punk-rock with the speed of skater-punk, the shredding guitars of hardcore, the melodic vocals of pop-punk, and a dash of screamo evened out by the odd acoustic moment. Across the record you’ll find hints of Propagandhi, Strung Out and Rocket from the Crypt. ‘Peace Lies Beyond Our Fear of Each Other’ even has a little Fall Out Boy pop to its guitars. All in all it’s very reminiscent of fellow Canadians This Is a Standoff, a band that often seems to pop up on the same labels as High Five Drive, as well as having worked together in the past (TIAS frontman Steve Rawles produced an earlier offering). Good bed fellows indeed.
You can add to all this some insightful lyrics that are passionate without being overbearing, political without being preachy and sardonic without being jaded. “They don’t have to lie to us if we lie to ourselves” [from ‘Inspiration to Realization’] sums up a political outlook that’s not so much bleak as knowing, whilst “When it comes to fucking up, just crown me king” [from ‘Underbreath Regrets’] has that own-worst-enemy mentality that I imagine everyone suffers sooner or later. It takes a few listens to get a handle of the lyrics but well worth the effort in the long run.
On the evidence of ‘Full Blast’ this low-profile that High Five Drive currently rides upon deserves to be torpedoed out of the water and recognition given to what is a very tight and notable band. If you like intelligent, well structured punk-rock that’s not condescending nor identikit then this is the record for you.
Alex