Manchester Punk Festival Releases 37th Compilation
Manchester Punk Festival have released the 37th volume of their compilation series ahead of this year’s festival. Manchester Punk Festival Vol. 37 is…
Black Sheep - Thousand Islands Records
Having been playing and recording since 2006 Still Insane have in that time managed to release up to now one LP ‘Never An Off’ and now with the release of Black Sheep, the EP count will reach three, this does tell us as listeners that this band are definitely more on the power punch side of music, EP’s can pack so much into such a short space and allow bands to crack on with the real fun of playing live and not sitting around in a studio.
As a whole this is another 90’s Skate-punk inspired slice Canadian Rock n Roll, fast furious and non stop, it leaves you a little breathless and wondering should I just hit play again or go have a lie down first!
So do we just write this off as a five track continuation of the last release Friends & Family, in some respects yes, but as this one unfolds you can clearly hear the quirky little improvements they have made in the sound, ‘Sleeping On The Floor’ although kicking of a little like my favourite track of the last EP and title track Friends & Family, somehow it has a much more pedal to the floor approach, and with the addition of the female vocal half way through adds a wonderful layer of extra quality.
The title track ‘Black Sheep’ which has been released ahead of the EP, strikes a much more metal/hardcore note from the off, with some pretty heavy riffs backed up by pretty clever licks, vocally it holds nothing back either, then we move on without coming up for breath to ‘No More Targets’ which draws a similar outline musically to the previous track but much much shorter.
‘Stay At Home’ is the bands addition to the many songs that have come out of a pandemic filled year or two, do what’s right and hopefully we can get back to what we need, live music and seeing friends. Then before you have had time to think of what to do about the empty glass of beer beside you, its all over ‘Thank You’ plays it’s lament on what sounds like a “thank you for putting up with me for so long” ode.
This EP isn’t Friends & Family, not quite at that level for myself, but then were would we be if things didn’t move on and develop?
Fast, furious and darn right heavy skate-punk at its best.
Released on 4th February via Thousand Island Records
Streaming Pre-Order can be found HERE
Check out all the bands info and many more links via their FACEBOOK