For whatever reason, UK hardcore bands often seem ill at ease to send us their music for review. I’m not sure why that is – maybe they think we’re clueless or they don’t value our opinion – but there’s a genuine lack of underground stuff coming our way, especially from the south coast. I’d heard a lot about Jets vs Sharks, yet nothing from them, so I was chuffed when their CD finally landed on the doormat. And boy was I not disappointed. What Jets do is hardly new, but they do it with such energy, vigour, enthusiasm and without any of the pretense of many of the larger (and more often than not, American) bands that attempt to do something similar. In short, this is absolutely fucking ace.
It’s difficult to compare Jets to any other band without doing them an injustice, but they have a No Idea feel and a sense of unadulterated brutality and passion which shines above most of the records I’ve heard this year. Each of the eight tracks throws the band head-on into a socially-aware world where the band spit out their message with vigour. Guitars scythe through a backdrop of screams and crashing cymbals, with tracks like the immense ‘Ghosts of August’ and ‘This Year Will Burn’ sticking out.
Jets Vs Sharks have already garnered positive reviews from the likes of Kerrang and this mainstream praise will serve them in good stead. The UK underground scene can only continue to flourish if bands like this get the praise they deserve. Hopefully many more talented bands, of all genres, can see they too can make an impact on a wider scale. With passion, presence and power, Jets Vs Sharks have come out with a record that, put simply, is one of the best this year.
http://www.angelfire.com/apes/jets_vs_sharks/home.html
Cat N Cakey Records
Paul