Collision – Into The City (All Road Lead to Nowhere) EP

Newcastle UK punk act Collision originally formed back in 1978, but split before releasing anything and have recently re-formed and their self-released debut Into The City (All Roads Lead to Nowhere) EP dropped late last year.

The four tracks on the EP are all completely different and work best when vocal duties are shared between founding member Mickey Oliver and recently recruited Karen Chaos. Broken eyes channels 80’s garage and cool riffs but unfortunately Chaos’s vocals let down what is actually a decent song. It would seem they took the lyric, I had to scream like a banshee in the night, literally. On In to the city  the banshee-esque vocals remain prominent, but are toned down slightly and fit with the pace of this great little tune that could have been lifted from an early Jam album (and I’m not just saying that because of the title). The guitar work is excellent, simple solos are just the right length and don’t sound out of place. Where Do Ya Go, a good fuzzy guitar start, and the vocal duties are shared between Karen and Mick to excellent affect and despite a repetitive beat a lack of any time changes it works well. This is Life (This is Living) kicks off with a fun intro, and a welcome drop in of vocals being led by the gruff voiced guitar player with good use of harmonies to accent. The second chorus bridge features a call to arms chant of: I hear the voices of the young. I see the streets where they come from. I hear the cries into the night. I think its time we done it right, is easily the EP’s highlight and captures the bands first wave punk credentials in quite spectacular fashion.

Despite having it’s problems, Collision’s belated debut EP epitomises some of the things that wave one punk rock was all about; attitude, a mistrust of authority and a hard-working, DIY ethos.