Album Review: Trashed Ambulance – Flashes Of Competence

Canada’s Trashed Ambulance released their sophomore full length, Flashes Of Competence, last week ahead of a short run of dates across eastern Canada, a tour that culminates with their debut appearance at Montreal’s legendary Pouzza Fest. Flashes of Competence is the follow up to the Instant and A Dime For Every Time EPs that were released last year, and their self released 2016 debut album, Blurry Thoughts, and whilst it carries the same spirit of excess it’s an album that indicates that Trashed Ambulance are still moving forward. Flashes Of Competence is now available on CD and through all digital outlets via Thousand Islands Records.

Flashes Of Competence kicks straight into gear with Ambulance, a frantic slice of intoxicated punk rock that carries a hefty influence from the earlier recordings from NOFX, something that isn’t undermined by the following track, Shit Block. The twelve tracks the make up Flashes Of Competence hammer along at full tilt, it’s an album that moves away from the sound on their debut full length with a more polished sound, and more than a fair few Flashes Of Competence. Occasional moments of ska punk creep into the mix, but for the most part this is twelve tracks of the kind of irresponsible punk rock that makes life worth living, and the morning after regrettable.

My advance download of Flashes Of Competence coincided with the death of my laptop that delayed the review, thankfully this wasn’t an omen as Trashed Amublance‘s debut full length is an impressive hedonistic release. It’s one that will be guaranteed to appeal to fans of the likes of NOFX, Screeching Weasel, Frenzal Rhomb and punk rock from less than sober side of the street. Every track carries a devil may care attitude that indicates that their run up to Pouzza Fest should be an interesting ride, and while the ambulance may be trashed it’s still firing on all cylinders.

You can purchase and stream Flashes Of Competence via Bandcamp here