Various Artists – Punkalicious Volume III

  • Steven Farkas posted
  • Reviews

Various Artists

Punkalicious Volume III - Punkalicious Records

Punkalicious Volume III is the 3rd (no, really!) instalment of a compilation series put together by UK based punk label Punkalicious Records. The label solicits submissions from bands directly and then selects based on a series of criteria (which I can only assume is top secret). Focus is on promoting new, unsigned acts so you’re unlikely to see a familiar name here.

Punkalicious Volume III offers twenty bands the chance to be featured, and as with most compilations there is a wide range in the quality (and styles) on offer, and that is no different here.

Fuckshovel’s Long Time Dead is fast paced energetic hardcore that grabs you from the first note, Stup!d’s  High on Gravity is a simple little tune with a low fi horn section and it shouldn’t work, but it really does. Reaper in Sicily’s Horizons is a fantastic blast of melodic screamo and Colours from Days on Juno is another slice of pop punk brilliance. The offerings from the likes of Brave Yesterday, Terrics and Abandon All Excuses also deserve a mention here, particularly Hey! from Brave Yesterday. It is the clear standout on this compilation with its Alkaline Trio-esque guitars and melodies galore. They are definitely a band to watch.

One of the problems with compilations is that there is such a limited example of a bands material to judge, meaning that even the songs from bands that are not so successful on this particular record shouldn’t mean their entire catalogue deserves to be written off on the strength (or lack of) of one song.

Overall this is a pretty successful compilation from a label who are providing a platform for relatively unknown/unsigned acts to get there music out to a wider audience. And whilst not every song here is a rousing success, the efforts should be lauded.