Chapter IV
Pirates Press, 2018
10/10
The British street punks Booze & Glory continue their impressive catalog with this 4th album that arrived right around their 10 year mark as band. Not so surprisingly, and thankfully, their lively and ferocious formula of rhythmic and tuneful punk rock that sounds like it could have been penned in any decade since the ‘70s is in fine form across the rowdy Chapter IV.
The album starts with graceful piano balladry with a Celtic slant before bursting into a charged, buzzing display of anthemic, melodic, UK spirited punk rock, and “No Rules” follows with the sort of driving guitar that sounds very Southern California as gruff vocals guide the fist pumpin’ setting.
A consistently great listen, middle tracks like “Simple” turn the volume down but keep the tunefulness high with calmer moments amid the sing-alongs, while the speedy, pop-punk fueled “Back On Track” and the album highlight, “Blood From A Stone”, pairs rock’n’roll with old school flavored punk that we will never tire of.
Closer to the end, “Violence And Fear” moves with the sort of charged intensity that will get you searching out the nearest pit while taking a breath to join in the gang vocals, and “Start Believing” exits the listen with a strong display of the chemistry between the top notch rhythm section.
Sometimes compared to legends like The Dropkick Murphy’s and Flogging Molly, Booze & Glory certainly hold their own against names like that, as this career highlight easily illustrates. Previously released only in Europe in 2017, this version brings a couple of extra tunes to the listen, which you won’t find me complaining about one bit.
Travels well with: Cock Sparrer- Forever; Noi!se- The Real Enemy