Rebuke / Money Left To Burn – Split

Rebuke and Money Left To Burn – not exactly household names in the punk rock community, but solid modern interpretations of melodic 90’s skate punk nevertheless. Both minor players in a much bigger scene, you’d be unlikely to run across them during the same trip through town. So leave that job to the talent scouts at Disconnect Disconnect Records who had the insight to offer up a crash course on both bands via a sick new split. Clocking in at ten songs in just over twenty minutes, Rebuke and Money Left To Burn make for a natural and fiery pairing. Like jalapenos doused in hot sauce, each flame feeds the fire.

Sweden’s Rebuke kicks things off with their big and brash brand of rapidfire melody. Landing somewhere between the jagged vocals meet rattle-bang drumbeat of Burning Fiction and Part Time Killer, “Hunter Street” opens on a deceptively perky note before jarring forward with rambunctious riffs that spit out the message “we won’t miss you while you’re gone.” Compared with their peers, Rebuke is considerably more abrupt in their vocals and guitar work, but justifies the rough edges with some razor sharp guitar solos that reel in the tension to tighten their form. Notably, “That’s A Sick Park” finds the guitar lead taking aim with familiar guitar work that sounds like a metal cover of the iconic Jurassic Park theme song. Not exactly something you’d seek out – but the novelty of the riffs boast some seriously epic staying power. Rebuke’s contributions are consistent with their past, and their five tracks race by with confidence and attitude.

Flip over to the second side though and the disc really blasts off. German quintet Money Left To Burn boasts a technical edge in the vein on MUTE, Propagandhi, A Wilhelm Scream, Strung Out and Darko – and they know how to use it. Propelled by searing lead vocals that pace the ensuing buzz of high flying riffs, Money Left To Burn barrel headlong into bouts of highly entertaining audio demolition. “Finish Line” lathers on the intensity in a pseudo-hardcore approach drawing plenty of parallels to Darko’s rabid enthusiasm. Other tracks like “Ladders” feed into vocal harmonies and layers of sizzling chords traded between the band’s two guitarists. The rest of the batch race onwards like Full Circle-era Pennywise in “Dreaming ‘Bout Utopia” and “Common Shame.” As the disc rolls to a close, Money Left to Burn leaves an impressionable mark.

The combination of Rebuke’s rapidfire melodic skate-punk and Money Left To Burn’s technical edge make for a dynamic and sonically “spicy” split that entertains from start to finish. Rebuke’s playful side balances out Money left To Burn’s more instrumentally ambitious attitude without outshining one another. Disconnect Disconnect Records has a done a fine job in pairing two lesser known and complimentary European punk acts together. If any of the various influences caught your eye, then Rebuke and Money Left To Burn’s first split is worth your time.