Standard Issue - Can We Be Free?

 

  I featured Standard Issue (https://www.facebook.com/standardissuepunk) on here a couple of years ago when I posted a song from their excellent Those Who Have Come Before ep. Since then they've released an ep titled Idiocracy and now they're back with a new single of which both sides are excellent examples of full throttle punk rock. 

  The band are from Riverside, California and feature a line up of Mike Cantrell (vocals/guitar), Chris Clement (bass) & Andy Stomper (drums). I played the flip side of the single on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show. It's titled Another Day, Another Fight and it's every bit as good as the A side (to be honest, I think it's my favourite of the 2 tracks). A Furious pace and a great message (Why Can't We Live In Peace?), it's pretty much perfect hardcore punk. 

  You can get the single here : https://standardissuepunk.bandcamp.com/album/can-we-be-free

  The A side (which I'll play on next week's show) is another short burst of adrenaline inducing noise that'll have you running round punching walls and screaming at the top of your lungs. It's called Can We Be Free? 

Standard Issue - When You Leave

"Misery loves company, please lock the door when you leave..." 

  Standard Issue play a timeless brand of energetic melodic hardcore of the type that'd seem perfectly at home on mixtapes compiled at any period of time during the last 30 plus years. Even the name Standard Issue (not sure if they're named after the Morning Glory track but I certainly hear elements of that Choking Victim/Leftover Crack/Morning Glory signature sound) dredges up memories of classic 80's or 90's favourites. They are however a more recent addition to the scene. Hailing from Riverside, California, they're a 3 piece who released a S/T ep at the end of 2017 and followed it up with The Cost Of War album and the Out Of Time ep. Earlier this month they were back with new album Those Who Have Come Before and it's one you definitely don't want to miss. There's times when you stumble across a new release that makes a big impression, this was one of those.

  Most of the songs barrel along at breakneck speed, Like To Know, No One Knows and Tomorrow Is Unknown being particular favourites. All the songs are great though and happily the high octane pace doesn't take away from the melody which is present in abundance throughout. The album's available via No Time Records & Tent City Records and you can find it here :   https://standardissuepunk.bandcamp.com/album/those-who-have-come-before

   The song I'm highlighting today is another extremely strong one, it's still pacy but it's maybe a little more considered and there's something about the punchy vocals that hits the sweet spot. It's called When You Leave...