A splash of springy Swedish punk. I don’t want to stereotype here, but Sweden has a knack for producing very catchy punk. Of course, other countries have bands with grabby riffs and pop sensibilities, but I just think of Swedish punk as imbued with this stuff right out of the gate, regardless of genre. I mean, several of these songs played in a loop in my head, and this is fairly boilerplate hardcore. All the same, its edges remain agreeably rough and slamdance-ready.
Driving anarcho-punk from this Toulouse, France quartet. NIGHTWATCHERS take the long view, with historical assessments of French imperialism and nationalism, which undoubtedly circle back to where we are now: in a milieu of nationalist vs. globalist thinking, our wheels spinning. Lyrics and politics aside, they play melodic, power pop punk—think of that heavy snare hit on every quarter-note beat. Nothing particularly ear-catching here, but at least they’re fighting the good fight!
No pun intended, but this truly is a lovely four-way split right here. A nice meld of several different styles, which leaves the entire album feeling fresh throughout. Things kick off with STATUES, who play a bittersweet, indie-rock-tinged style of punk similar to bands like GASLIGHT ANTHEM and latter-era HÜSKER DÜ. GASP is up next with some hardcore-infused rock’n’roll that brings to mind the more recent outings from bands like FUCKED UP. Really high-energy with musical peaks and valleys that keep things especially groovy. SWEET TEETH have a similar sound to STATUES, but are more akin to DINOSAUR JR. and FARSIDE, satiating the needs of anyone who misses the ’90s alternative sound. Closing things ups, ironically enough, is FIRST IN LINE, who play a style of skate punk that I feel like I haven’t heard in years. Anti-fascist and catchy as hell. What more could you want? Really great slab and well worth a listen.
Sweden and garage rock is one of those combinations that always seems to work, and Swedish Woods is another gleaming example that evinces this axiom. The MANIKINS have been churning out high-energy heat since the late ’90s, and upon listening, one may be quick to think of the HIVES, fellow Swedes who formed a few years earlier. And while they would make a great double-bill to be sure, it would probably make more sense for the MANIKINS to play the afterparty—no coordinated suits, and a late night energy that you just want to keep going, sleep be damned. There’s also a little more variety to be found throughout these twelve tracks than what you usually get from their contemporaries. Swedish Woods brings in elements of power pop (“Rosita”), as well as more straightforward rock sounds (“My Last Time,”). It’s the soulful crooning and howling vocal delivery on “I Need To Tell You,” however, that cements this album as a real standout.
