The self-titled new EP release from Spider is a blistering ride from start to finish. The Long Beach punk four-piece reformed in 2016 after a fifteen-year hiatus and are digitally re-releasing their 2001 debut album, the excellent Youth Insurance. The original is well worth checking out and will seem undoubtedly familiar to those who’ve already given the EP a listen, which Spider have affectionately dubbed a ‘best of’ EP. It features six tracks plucked from Youth Insurance which showcase the core of Spider’s unique sound and vibrant essence: “PCE,” “New Junk II,” “Barcode Baby,” “Shooting Stars/Get Caught,” “Can’t Control,” and “Pleasure Fold.”
“It’s my life…” the shouty backing vocals angrily insist in “PCE,” the first song on the EP and one that definitely starts off in the right place. With echoes of classics Black Flag and Minor Threat, this track tells us exactly the type of journey we’re about to go on and is riddled with angst and frustration. This vibe continues with the short and explosive “New Junk II,” littered with the kind of half-screams that hint at hardcore and including plenty more juicy punk lyrics – “I hate you, you hate me” being the main hook of the chorus.
These types of punchy, exciting, in your face tunes are exactly what punk needs and is missing at the moment. It’s a genre that’s constantly adapting and changing, but ultimately, musical styles and sounds often come full circle, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a bit of old school. But this is more than just an homage to classic punk. Whereas some early punk bands prided themselves on the raw “only just learned to play our instruments, recorded in a basement” vibe, there is a subtlety and craft to Spider’s well-constructed and neatly produced sound that makes them stand out and gives them the spin of originality needed to make a mark in today’s tough industry.
Just check out the second half of “Barcode Baby.” The track blisters along at breakneck speed for the first minute then leads us into a middle section, the kick drum keeping a steady beat, and the rest of the music dropping back while vocalist Hector Martinez takes his lyrics over the top, full of sarcasm and cynicism. Eventually, he breaks out into a satisfying scream before the music crashes back in and delights us with a few bars of power chords and a funky bass riff followed by an excellent guitar solo.
With Al Silva’s snappy, insistent snare drum, Steve Westerkamp’s unusual and exciting bass licks, and Karl Izumi’s fast, non-simplistic solo guitar work (check out “Pleasure Fold” for a great example of all these!), it’s clear we’re dealing with four guys who know their instruments well, and also know how to get the best out of them in the studio – not restricting themselves to just one style but bringing in different influences to enhance their sound.
A track such as “Shooting Stars/Get Caught,” for example, would be unusual on just your bog standard punk album with its early 90s emo vibes and melodic hardcore guitar work, reminiscent of the golden era of Jawbreaker and Sunny Day Real Estate. It may be the longest track on the EP, but it doesn’t drag; it’s a musical journey and paints a picture, leading us nicely back into the fast, more standard punk of “Can’t Control.”
The EP is definitely worth checking out, and if it doesn’t make you want to hit the download button on Youth Insurance to hear more of Spider, then nothing will. One can only hope that the spate of recent activity from the band is indicative of a full return with brand new material in the pipeline. Come on, boys – punk is ageless, right?
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