Ska Mutiny Records is the latest brand looking to counter plummeting record sales by offering up electronic recordings for minimal coinage or, even better, nowt. Citing the Stateside likes of Open Hand Records and Community Records (well worth checking out) as inspiration, the label has previously unleashed some quality ska and punk mp3 compilations and EPs. This split release represents a first foray into physical releasing, and at just four quid it’s, well, pretty cheap.
‘Triple Threat’ is a simple three-way split CD; three bands, three tracks each, 30 manic minutes. Easy.
KICKBACK UK
The first fall is awarded to the Manchester sextet delivering ska and punk rock in the form of a firm (cough) kick to the posterior. The three tracks on offer here aren’t quite up to last year’s four star EP, but the up tempo, balls-to-the-wall approach is always welcome around these parts. Opener, ‘Gradwell That Ends Well’ is the pick of the bunch, a bit of an edgier number with horns turned down which comes across as much melodic hardcore as ska-punk. It’s no surprise then that guitarist/vocalist Francis Hunt has recently joined on with Chief then. [3/5]
THE BEST OF THE WORST
Taking the second fall, TBOTW sounds like Random Hand facing off with The Flaming Tsunamis, only to be thwacked in the head by a steel chair wielding fashioncore band. In other words, the New Jersey outfit throws out a lot of hardcore punk, brass infused ska, and a fair few beatdowns. It’s spasmodic without being painfully inaccessible, whilst flipping an air of knowing non-seriousness. The tracks on offer have been previously available in the States, so this serves as an introductory sampler for the UK market. Not a bad one either. [4/5]
JOEY TERRIFYING
Since PT described the band’s output as ‘rousing’, Joey Terrifying has decided to call it quits. There’s no link between the two (we hope). The Dundee outfit isn’t quite out for the count though (a posthumous album may follow) and these three tracks ram a trademark skacore, punk-rock viciousness into your eardrums. ‘National Insecurities’ is given a bit of a beefing since its appearance on ‘The First Demo’, whilst the remaining two new tracks set about getting up in your grill in double quick fashion. Expect lots of pounding drums, gruff licks, tempo changes, bobbingly danceable numbers, all delivered by some angry Scotsmen. Quality and impressiveness all in one. Shame it’s all over so soon. [3.5/5]
Alex