EP Review: Trashed Ambulance – Shorthanded

Ever since their formation just five short years ago Trashed Ambulance have defied all the odds and survived all the usual pitfalls of being a punk band, including line up changes and too many hangovers to mention, to become a recognised trio of faces on the Canadian punk scene. They released their sophomore album ‘Flashes Of Competence‘ last year and have now followed this up with the ‘Shorthanded‘ EP that is now available via Thousand Islands Records digitally and also on extremely limited edition ‘wasabi green’ cassette.

‘Shorthanded‘ is top and tailed by random samples that ensure you know that Trashed Ambulance don’t take themselves too, if at all, seriously, every track is a hit of 90’s snotty melodic skate punk that owes a hefty debt to the likes of NOFX, The Queers, Screeching Weasel and Frenzal Rhomb. Trashed Ambulance kick ‘Shorthanded‘ into gear with the EP’s opening track ‘Open Road‘ and any concerns you may have had that the trio had matured or changed are swiftly put to rest, this is the same strain of good natured beer fuelled punk rock that graced their previous releases. 

Whilst Trashed Ambulance have stayed true to their course the one significant change is that ‘Shorthanded‘ has a slightly more polished sound to it, whether this is down to the trio behind the production, mixing and mastering or just the fact that Trashed Ambulance have been on the road for most of their existence and it’s a natural progression is something I can’t answer, but it’s no bad thing. ‘Shorthanded‘ is a perfect companion to last year’s ‘Flashes Of Competence‘ as it’s from the same stable, this one just might a be bit more a thoroughbred.

Shorthanded can be streamed and purchased via Thousand Islands Records here

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