Album Review: Tripdash – I’m Not The Artist (2020 Edition)

Originally available back in 2007 on the independent PassTo The Left Records, ‘I’m Not The Artist’, by Newcastle’s melodic hardcore act Tripdash, gets a re-release on May 18^th via Spanish City Records, with all proceeds going to charity. Vocalist Johnny Walker, now with Ructions (also featuring former Tripdash members Matt and Steve), explains further:

“Domestic abuse help-lines have received an astronomical spike in calls during the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, all profits generated from digital and physical sales of the new edition of ‘I’m Not the Artist’ will be donated to Stay Brave, a charitable organisation which helps survivors of rape, abuse and intimate violation find “the help they need and the respect they deserve”.”

The album has been revised to include additional recordings, in effect offering a 3-part retrospective of the band, beginning with the original 6-track EP – “Bear in mind we were young whipper snappers when we originally recorded the songs,”  – that still sounds fresh, and relevant, even though it’s been a decade since they split. Initially lauded for its energy and passion, what strikes most about listening anew is the technicality and melody that bristles within. ‘I’m Not The Artist’ itself crashes in, tight, and exemplifies Tripdash’s inventive approach – their snapping, stop-start rhythms and trading tempos, grounded by guttural bass but lifted by spiky guitar lines, are crowned by clear, tuneful and reflective vocals; see ‘Clicks’ (which also features here as the 2006 single version) and its spurring “no matter what you were going through, I was always there for you.” Next follows the thrashing and burning ‘Redlight’, the barely-contained chaos of ‘The Strength of Meaning’, and the flexing, muscular ‘Are We Still The Same?’. Breathless, it all culminates in the unrelenting ‘Mary Whitehouse Is Dead’ and its ‘recycle the sky’ refrain.

The ‘second half’ of the release offers two tracks from the band’s 2008 UK Tour split with the post-hardcore 5 piece Kaikoura: ‘The Essential Cause’ creeps in before literally bursting into a ball of frenetic energy, complete with a twice-neck-spraining breakdown, while ‘Universal Export’ is punchy and angular, featuring some meticulous fretwork from both guitar and bass and a gorgeous wind-down.

The final three songs are a trio of demos; a promise of what could have been (?).  ‘We Put the Sex Into Secularity’ (Johnny’s favourite song of the band’s) skates along with both pace and power; ‘Rhetoric’ keeps up the momentum and detail, before closer ‘Spiders’ incorporates an eclectic mix of bouncing, staccato pulses and fist-pumping intensity.

Like commanding, driving hardcore with a precise edge and soaring vocals? A limited-edition (50) digipak of ‘I’m Not The Artist’ is only available via the band’s official Bandcamp page, where the digital version can also be found. Tripdash still have an online presence on Facebook and Twitter.

There is more information about the work Stay Brave does on their official website.