There’s no real definition of “punk hardcore”- something of a pop punk evolution – and when it comes to bands such as Such Gold, we see a band who don’t give a shit about how their music is defined as long as they’re having a baller of a time creating it. With the band’s sophomore release, The New Sidewalk, the boys have definitely pushed against the currents of the ocean and have released something edgy and fun-fetching.
Looking back at their debut album, Misadventures, it was a loose journey for the band in terms of what musical direction they wanted to go into. However, with this record, they captured everything they did in their predecessor but made it a 2.0 with HD definition. Of course, listening to the album made me think of bands such as Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! and Set Your Goals but there was something a mesmerising about their music, too. It felt like they weren’t trying too hard; that they somehow made a place of their own and called it their territory.
“Engulfed in Flames” came across as an in-your-face type of track, self-indulged of constant electric guitar riffs and crazy instrumentals. With its immaculating drum and vocal work, it really showcased the sporadic qualities the band were trying to put into their music. This continuum is then seen in “Faced” and “Axed Away” being even more amplified and diverse in terms of the production of the music. With the constant unleveled but intriguing atmosphere created, the tracks are full of life and spontaneity that the meaning of the lyrics become even more significant in conjunction to the music.
Ben Kotin’s vocals are strong, displaying a bad-ass attitude which follows on in “Food Court Blues.” It can be complimented that he has very strong vocal control because not only can he keep up with the fast rhythm conveyed across most tracks, he can also produce convoluted screaming vocals, bringing an appetising variety to the record.
Speaking of variety, the band have definitely experimented with different kinds of musical influences and what caught me by surprise was the dark transformation they put across in “I Know What I Saw.” It’s basically punk hardcore music with a post-grunge twist. The heavy electric guitar riffs in the beginning basks off as something Nirvana and Pearl Jam like, creating a flashback to an era where everything dark was what made rock music so powerful and unique. Not even that but the track itself hasn’t lost the essence of the record and listeners can find a sense of appreciation in their music, without feeling too overwhelmed from the hard-hitting instrumentation.
Whether you’re into music that captures your short attention span or something that keeps you away from all things mediocre, Such Gold have given you a record that satifies both criteria. Punk hardcore music speaks for itself, so be prepared for explosive tracks that will essentially blow your mind. For a record that flows well and has no fillers, you might find yourselves enjoying the release more than you hoped for.
Review Score: 8.5 out of 10. 
The New Sidewalk is available now. Head to http://www.thenewsidewalk.com/
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