Thank the gods for punk rock. Just when we all get caught up in chord progressions and melodies and mic placement, Punks (and I mean that adoringly) have a lovely way of reminding us that there’s beauty in sheer energy, sheer chaos. There is a separate path to enlightenment via volume and “it’s all bollocks” lyrics. Seriously. If we are to accept the beauty and elegance of a “perfect” aria or pop song with their controlled emotion, then we must also accept the beauty and elegance that comes from raw emotion. Case in point, The Issues, a fearsome punk quartet out of Moor Lane in Exeter (or 10 Downing Street, we can’t tell), and their wonderful song “Arancini.” Here’s our review.
A minor, about 108 bpm, but it feels much heavier due to the playing and production. After a funny little vocal intro and set up from the rhythm section, we go straight into the head riff that the song is built around. As the vocals come in they do a great job of adding syncopation and drops to create some space for the phrasing. First verse is broken up into two sections before we get to the main course, the Arancini if you will, where they switch up the chords and pattern just enough to create a memorable chorus section. Second verse and chorus follow the same thought process and it all works so well together.
The production and tones are spot on - exactly what you’d want. Great picking bass line, proper compression and dirt on the guitars with not too much grease. Vocals are up close and in your face, but they’ve done a great job in engineering them so that when the screams come there’s no distortion in the signal or loss in the mix. Also commendable is the separation and pan used in the guitar solo - keeping it over to the left side . Absolutely love the drum tones - true punk. No extra eq employed - just the raw tones. No idea who produced it, but they knocked it out of the park.
Coming out of the solo they deliver another verse section that is a beautiful poke in the eye to the establishment and right in line with the lyrics. Absolutely lovely shit. If the solo didn’t give you enough chaos, they deliver it in spades after that section with a huge ending that breaks down into half time and chorus of screams. Great song, great vibe, great tones, great production.
Scroll down to catch their socials and other tracks. Their Instragram is hilarious. Our other favorite tracks in “Morning Cigarette” and “Charlie’s a Dickhead”, both up-tempo bangers with great tones, memorable lyrics and very smart arrangements. “My Ex Stacey” has a great swing feel to it - showing a pop sensibility to their writing that you wouldn’t expect. This is the type of band we would love to see live - especially here in Nashville - they would blow people away! Keep it up lads, we want to see you on the big stage one day - don’t ever change.
