A couple of first wave of punk influenced records here from The Pulsebeats & Year Zero, most definitely on the melodic end of the scale here, with The Pulsebeats verging on power pop, we’re talking Buzzcocks/The Vapors crossed with Husker Du territory here, with Year Zero continuing in the vein of energetic classic punk rock taking their lead from the usual suspects but putting their own spin on things with influences from throughout the decades.
Apologies to both bands as these were albums that were sent to me an age ago and ended up on my “to listen to and review” list for way too long, ending up getting lost amongst the chaos, a great shame and pity that I haven’t shared these before now as they are both exuberant collections of sing/dance/pogo along to punk anthems. Better late than never…
The Pulsebeats – Lookin’ Out
The Pulsebeats is a perfect name for the band. From the opening chords of Lookin’ Out’s opening song, Skipping Stones the pace of their foot to the floor raucous punk melodies is as relentless as it is joyous, their vibrant pulsating rhythms delivered with a seemingly unbowed and unending energy.
The band fly out of the blocks apace with the insanely catchy Skipping Stones, from then on the adrenaline rush just keeps on pulsing through the bloodstream. There is absolutely nothing half-hearted about the delivery of these twelve tracks, it is foot to the floor all the way. Mathilda’s Rifle keeping up the full throttle energy before the pace ramps up another notch with the nod to their roots that is She Sings Like Joey Ramone.
Song after song, riff after riff, the addictive hooks never stop, Hot Glue It! going down the garage rock route, before the album’s title track introduces the final trio of songs, Heart Attack even bringing an element of skiffle/rockabilly drumming to the proceedings With final song Coma State they have saved one of their best to last, a sonic sensation, superbly delivered lyrics spitting venom with an inspirational instrumental break leaving you breathless but elated. This is what punk is all about.
Pulsebeats – Bandcamp
Year Zero – Brace for Impact
Year Zero first impressed with their Heart Shaped Bullets EP a few years ago, Brace for Impact, their debut long player picks up from where the EP left off, thundering drums and power riffs kicking off Ruin My Town complete with its chant a long chorus bemoaning the death of small towns.
Human Condition is one of the best songs on the album, the sonorous chords underpinned by a pounding bass line. “Manners not money maketh the man” kicks off the well considered lyrics, again with a memorable chorus. To be fair great lyrics are a given across the whole album, and verse and chorus structures rhyming things like Trauma doll and Tramadoll (on another of my album highlights Trauma Doll).
Surprise of the album is their cover of Cat Stevens Matthew & Son, reinventing this classic and injecting it with a dose of testosterone. The theme of love related weaponry started on their Heart Shaped Bullets EP continues with Hand Grenade Heart, one of the songs on the album that you will find yourself singing subconsciously well after the album finishes great driving riffs, a catchy refrain and keyboard flourishes adding icing to the cake.
Tonight finishes the album in style with its initial slow build and glam punk guitars, “Tonight is yours and mine” sings Mick before a log instrumental fade out. The night is yours Year Zero, I’d love to hear these songs live if you ever fancy a trip up North.