Manchester Punk Festival Releases 38th Compilation
Manchester Punk Festival have released the 38th volume of their compilation series ahead of this year’s festival. Manchester Punk Festival Vol. 38 is…
On A Knife's Edge EP - Self Released
Strap in and prepare yourself for some head fucking up brutalist Punk Rock from this second release by the no holds barred State Of You. ‘On A Knife’s Edge’ EP is exactly what it says it is, its a life on the edge of destruction tirade, depicted in words and music that burn a whole through that steel exterior you thought would never be breached, you know the one you threw up as a child and still live behind, because its the safest place to be. This is an EP of epic proportions when it comes to tackling those issues that drag you down, the demons you fight every single day win or lose. This is an EP that may only be six songs long, but it packs a punch that will live with you forever.
‘Cut The Rope’ steps into the fray first, this look at how modern day life in itself is a pressure cooker too far for most, the opening line “I slam my face into a concrete floor just to see if I still feel at all” cant be listened to with out feeling some kind of affinity. The power of the vocal and machine gun drums that sit behind the incendiary guitar do everything to show the urgency this song is trying to convey. Not to shy away from digging out the lifestyles that have led to some of the worst choices, ‘To The Core’ spits some truths about that age-old “rockstar” lifestyle, the death of it predominantly, consequences are darker than they seemed.
Next up is ‘Under The Wire’, it’s as dark as it gets this one. Living with darkness for life is something that requires more strength than most could ever imagine, but learning to deal with it is also a way of life that most can only truly do alone, the fire in the belly of the vocals here have embers dropping all over your ears. This is truly a band that feels beyond the facade of just playing music for pleasure, this is music for life and sanity. ‘Double-Barrelled’ is the most melodic you’re gonna get throughout this EP, but it still goes back to a similar theme as track one, the pressures of living in todays society, perfection is only imagined by those wanting to control you.
Relationships aren’t spared from this microscope of an EP, ‘Two Of A Kind’ I think, looks at many many versions of one sided controlling relationships, be that family, romantic, friendship or acquaintances. Then we get to the dramatic end, but then this could alway be the true end for many caught up in their struggles with alcohol, it all depends on ‘Which Way The Water Flows’ I guess. Whether or not I’ve interpreted these songs for what they really are, I don’t think matters, what really matters is that you the listener knows just how traumatic life is, and just how harshly this EP throws that at you. It’s a set of songs that will leave you scarred, beaten and broken, but at the same time it will give you a place to feel not alone. Hardcore is too kind a word for this EP, its brutal in its music and lyrics, but it’s kind at its heart.
Out January 24th 2025 via Silent Cult
Drop over to the bands Facebook and Instagram for all the info