The Riptides – Burn After Listening

The Riptides for your information, are a pop-punk band from Ottawa Canada, they have been around since 1998, and this is the bands fifth full length (I hope my research is right on that).  Having not a huge amount of time invested in this band. I will admit that out of the last albums, I’ve probably only heard two, but this isn’t due to any lack of enthusiasm for them, its more down to my inability to listen to everything all the time (so much great music out there), so getting the opportunity to listen and enjoy this album for the first time, is a privilege I feel so grateful for.   

Before we get into how good this latest drop of pop-punk nectar is, let’s just take the time to let you know just how many collaborations and guest appearances there on this album, and just how important this band is in the grand scheme of things. With names like Screeching Weasel, The All American Rejects, Teenage Bottlerocket, The Queers and DeeCracks in the mix, hopefully you get the weight of importance this band has on the scene.

Lets forget what came before, and dive into this album like it was born without any baggage from the past, I know we as listeners like to connect the dots most times, but every now and then an album comes along that just needs to be listened to with fresh ears and enjoyed for nothing more than what it is.  What’s obvious and not so surprising from the off, is this is an album that’s got history striped through it, pop-punk history that is. ‘We Came To Destroy’ hangs its angry hat in the hallway, then ‘Smile’ looks around the ground floor rooms and sees just how the destruction of the world would look if it was right there on your doorstep. ‘End Of The World’ rips through what’s left of your neighbourhood with a party to end all parties “Its the end of the world and there’s no way I’m staying sober”, and why the fuck would you. ‘Bad Habit’ and ‘She’s The Most’ hit all the right moves in the songs about relationships and girls, Pop-Punk “101”.

Where this album gets really interesting and where you hear the real reason this is a move on by The Riptides, is in songs like ‘Cut It Out’ which is straight up speed punk with attitude. ’Anti-Social’ hits back with angst and offers no apologies, ‘Bottom Feeder’ drops hardcore like a splatter grenade all over the album, these are all pure angst in three totally different ways. What you’re not getting in this album, is any holding back, every inch of this genre has been ripped into, no corner of the room left scoured, a pop-punk/punk masterclass of an album. “Here’s how you fucking do it” I hear the fans crying from the mosh pit as they slam around like true circle jerks. Oh and just to fucking seal the deal, just listen to ‘Fade To Black’ and see if you can pick any holes in why The Riptides shouldn’t clamber atop the heap again!    

Rip that sticking plaster off and feel the burn, Pop-Punk is back and good hands……

Out now via Pirate Press Records

Drop on over to the bands FACEBOOK and get all the info you need.