From hardcore punk to post-punk, pop-punk and more, for all its various sub-genres, sometimes it’s good to take a step back, and get to basics: good old fashioned punk rock. While they may have only been around since 2002, Canada’s The Flatliners sound like a punk rock band with 30 years of experience under their belt. 2015 sees them back, with the 23 track rock ‘n’ roll rollercoaster that is ‘Division of Spoils’.
With thunderous drums – smacked with passion and precision, delivering incredible presence, jangling yet thick guitars with an almost Hot Water Music feel to them, raspy, aggressive vocals that would make Brody Dalle light up a few more cigarettes and bass lines so precise you could beat your heart to them, it’s safe to say that ‘Division of Spoils’ has pretty much got it all.
The catchy, singalong brilliance of ‘Lifers’, to the ska style jolt of ‘This Guy Reads from a Card’, and ‘This Song Is Like Thunder and Lightening in a Wide Open Field’ which you Gnarwolves fans will love, its 1hr 9min running time demonstrates this record is not pretentious, it’s not over the top, it’s just raw, honest, and damn good.
Simply, it’s punk rock at its finest. Uncomplicated, passionate, direct and captivating – it’s what draws so many to the genre in first place. The Flatliners have always delivered, ‘Division of Spoils’ just takes this to a new level. These are songs for the stage, to be sung along to at full volume, to be enjoyed at home and to play along to.Â
It’s not a one-dimensional record, though. The almost hardcore styling and vicious delivery on ‘Sleep Is for Bitches’ and ‘407’ is balanced incredibly well with the pop sensibilities of ‘Daggers’ (which also contains a pretty killer guitar solo, we’ve got to mention). It’s these flirtations with other music styles, and moulding these into their tracks and give the record a real ebb and flow, keeping your attention and making it captivating to the last second.
It’s all too easy to look to the past and state who influence The Flatliners, but looking to the future, hopefully these songs also serve as a wonderful influence to other, younger musicians and inspire them to carry the punk rock baton on into the future.
We tip our caps to you, The Flatliners. This record flat out rules.
CHRIS ROBINSON