ALBUM REVIEW: YOU KNOW THE DRILL - SELFHOOD (EP)
If the last few months are anything to go by, then 2018 appears to be the year that renews our faith in pop-punk. The latest group to aid our enthusiasm is Birmingham five-piece ‘You Know The Drill’ who have just released their sophomore EP ‘Selfhood’. Following their 2016 debut ‘Losing Streak’, ‘Selfhood’ ups the ante with 16 minutes of nostalgic pop-punk at its finest. There is very little that could be described as original here, but anyone who is lamenting the years when ‘Blink 182’ and ‘The Offspring’ dominated the airwaves could do a lot worse than pressing play and enjoying being transported back in time. Where ‘Losing Streak’ was an enjoyable yet not hugely memorable collection of songs, ‘Selfhood’ is an all killer, no filler collection of sing along anthems that show a dramatic improvement in ‘You Know The Drill’s songwriting abilities. Opening song ‘Overcast’ immediately sets the tone with a much rockier guitar tone and a chorus that deserves to be sung along to without a care in the world. This is a sentiment that continues all the way through with songs like ‘Homesick’ that would easily fit into the soundtracks classic playstation games such as Burnout and Tony Hawks. We could do without the obligatory ballad ‘Blossom’ which we have heard countless times in similar variations, but all in all ‘Selfhood’ is a huge step up for the Birmingham quintet and a welcome sign that the world of pop-punk still has more to offer.
6/10
Personal highlight: Final song ‘Snake Eyes’ is without a doubt the rockiest song on the record with another absolute belter of a chorus. The switch in pace for the final act packs even more of a punch and the dual vocal attack acts an extra sense of urgency.
