Are you a big fan of ska punk? And do you enjoy listening to bands from the 90s like Rancid and Reel Big Fish? If so, The Hostiles’ newest release Last Call will be right up your street.
The album begins with a very intresting introduction (simply called Intro), with an old-fashioned piano playing at a bar. There’s appears to be bit of a conflict between the barman and a customer, before the music begins, which then links into the first full track, Ed Knows. I’ve always liked album introductions, and this one is no exception.
At first, Ed Knows sounds more of a rock song, but the ska soon makes an appearance along with the guitars and drums. The track is fast-paced and very catchy (particularly the verses), which is always good, as that is how ska tends to be. The heavy metal and ska sound are mixed together a lot, and weirdly, they actually go together well.
Next up is Inconsiderate. Only a few seconds in, and you know the track is already awesome. It has more of a carribean sound this time, and is a lot more upbeat and happy sounding. The vocalist already has a good voice, but to me, it sounds as though it shows a lot more in this track. Also, the track itself is comparable to the kind of songs you hear from Rancid.
A few tracks down, and we have To Err Is Human. It first begins with heavy metal-like guitars riff, but quickly switches to ska in a matter of seconds. My favourite part of this track would have to be the lines “you were wrong, so fuck yourself”.
Last Call overall is an excellent album. It’s fun, catchy and would be great listen for those who enjoy ska punk. The album will be released on the 15th, so I’d reccommend it to any ska punk fans out there.