Vice PirateVice Pirate has a very interesting background to their name; essentially vice pirates was the term used for the idellwiss pirates who were a group of revolutionaries in nazi Germany who spread banned material and literature that spook out against the atrocities of the nazi regime. Eventually they all got hung for treason. Now that is a truly fitting name for a punk minded band, never back down from your beliefs, even in the face of death.
So with such a sweet name they have a set the bar high for this listener. Luckily these Adelaide, Australian natives deliver some extremely powerful and memorable punk rock that you could compare to the likes of Moneen, NOFX, and Gallows. But there is even more to be found here from this four piece. This is not your standard punk rock band, they list The Mars Volta and At The Drive In as major influences because as the band says, they are bands that you can't simply lump into any one genre and these guys show on this 7 song EP that they are not willing to align themselves within any one niche. And that is certainly refreshing.
I am very impressed with the quality of the recording, everything sounds so crystal clear, you can hear every note ring out in its entirety. There are different kinds of effects used throughout the disc but it's sparingly so it doesn't take away from the music itself. The bass tone is really lush and has plenty of room to breath in the mix. The guitar tone is nice and bright with a slight touch of distortion.
The layout is printed on recycled cardboard sleeve (which I'm always a fan of) with an image of a man staring out at the distance with a rainbow crossing his vision, that rainbow dominates the backside and is used to display the lyrics. My only gripe is that there isn't a lyric sheet included. I mean you can easily make out what the vocalist is saying but still, it'd be nice ya know?
Rating: 4/5
Songs Worthy of Replay: Fuck The Green Mile, I'll Do It Myself and Forged Conviction
Synopsis: Got a lot more than I was expecting. The seven songs fly by faster than you'd like, leaving you wanting more. The song writing is exceptional and has a memorable quality, there's sweet bass lines, atmospheric layering, and soothing vocals. I would love to hear these guys on a full length!
Take a listen for yourself and form your own opinion!
Vice Pirate MySpace
If you like what you hear make the purchase, but I will say an asking price of $10 is a bit much if I do say so myself!
Pee Records Website