Dan Webb and the Spiders are a punk band from Massachusetts
that evolved out of a one man band. Irish Handcuffs are a punk band from
Germany that formed out of a love for Jawbreaker and (presumably) Smoke or
Fire. Despite hailing from different continents, the two bands have teamed up together
to display their song-writing talents in the form of a split EP. The result is
a four track rush of snotty, yet melodious, punk rock.
Dan Webb and the Spiders start the split with “Quiet Houses”,
showing that the band hasn’t lost its touch when it comes to their brand of
garage-y punk rock. Webb’s vocals are slightly reminiscent of a young Lars
Frederiksen, but don’t let that comparison pigeon-hole the band in any way as a
Rancid-wannabe. “Quiet Houses” is full of aggressive musicianship, and a chorus
that begs to be shouted along with. The lead guitar screeches through the song’s
final moments, but it never sounds jarring. “Last Straw”, the Spiders’ other
contribution to the split, is a bit of a catchier number, with less
in-your-face instrumentals, and more reserved vocals. Webb’s vocals adopt more
of a Shevchuk scratch to them, and it suits the song’s melodic approach, not
unlike how the actual Shevchuk’s vocals suited LaGrecia. Much like its
companion, “Last Straw” is full of vocal harmonies and is sure to be a fun
sing-along.
Irish Handcuffs don’t miss a beat to keep the energy flow up
high. The young band contributes two
gruff, yet melodic punk rock tunes that pick up right where they left off with
2012’s stubbs. EP. “Derail” is
upbeat, and the guitar work sounds almost like it could have been a song that
got lost during the stubbs. sessions.
As catchy as the chorus is though, it’s “Sunday’s Ghosts” where Irish Handcuffs
really shine, with the four piece outfit really bringing their A-game to the three
and a half minute track. The instruments conjure up a dark and gloomy
atmosphere, and the raw emotion in the vocals delivers the band’s best studio performance
to date. It’s almost bizarre to think that this is only Irish Handcuffs’ second
studio release, as it plays as if the band has been around for a few years.
The best kinds of splits are the ones that showcase the
talents of all the bands involved without one stealing the thunder away from
the other; everyone gives it their all to show what they’re made of but holding
back just enough so that the listener wants more. Dan Webb and the Spiders and Irish
Handcuffs have accomplished exactly that with this split. Melodic punk rock has
seen a lot of faces come and go over the years, and this split helps to cement
that both Dan Webb and the Spiders and Irish Handcuffs are here to stay.
PS: Irish Handcuffs released a video for "Derail", which you can watch right here.
