Loaded 44 – Get Ready! EP

Loaded 44 are a punk band from the north east of the UK who have now been around for two decades, they make the kind of glorious punk rock that carries the attitude of the first wave of punk bands, but also has a distinct influence from the poppier new wave bands that followed the first punk explosion. What they deliver is a energetic, irresistible and contemporary hybrid of punk styles that manages to incorporate all of the finest elements of punk rock.

The title track opens the Get Ready! EP, straight away you’re pulled in by this infectious high tempo buzzsaw guitar punk anthem, this is Loaded 44‘s trademark style and it’s never sounded better. Tell Me is a slightly heavier and more frantic number that keeps the momentum going, Lonely is another winner, and probably my favourite from this impressive EP. It’s a catchy and defiant number that carries Beki Straughan‘s trademark vocal delivery, with a chorus you can’t help but sing along to. I Want It All closes the EP and brings ten perfect minutes of punk rock to a close. I’ve been playing Get Ready! on repeat since it arrived, I guarantee anyone who gets hold of a copy of Get Ready! will do exactly the same. Loaded 44 are an example of the grassroots DIY attitude at it’s finest, this is an EP that anyone with a love of punk rock should buy.

The four songs on Get Ready! are a natural progression from their first two albums, 2011’s Wasted On You and 2014’s Come On!, but the everything seems to have been raised up a notch from those two fine albums. The result is that this is Loaded 44‘s best release to date. Sadly this EP, and their appearance at this year’s Rebellion Festival, will be Stephen Straughan‘s swansong with the band, as he’s now playing guitar for the legendary UK Subs, but this a hell of a way to bow out and I look forward to hearing what the next incarnation of Loaded 44 will produce.

Loaded 44 are appearing at the Rebellion Festival on Friday 5th August at 2.40pm on the Pavilion Stage

Get Ready! will be available from the band’s merchandise stall at Rebellion Festival

You can order Get Ready! direct from Loaded 44, their Facebook page is here and their website is here

Live Photo courtesy of Dave Uglypunk