No Quarter – ‘Freedom’.
No Quarter – Singleton, New South Wales, Australia.
Hailing in and around Singleton, New South Wales, Australian Punks No Quarter have been slogging it out since 2003 with a number of sporadic releases and line-up changes depicting all too true and indeed common story of underground bands. However, history is history and with the band now teaming up with Polish/European Label Melodic Punk Style this November, they have recently released their latest effort, Freedom.
Melodic Punk-Rock and Skate Punk have been on the steady increase in recent years in scenes all over the world, with the Australian scene and its own contribution showcasing some stellar work.
‘Freedom’ after its emotive beginnings blends thick and jagged Punk riffs and shredding solos with a slight Alternative Rock influence that may well raise your eyebrow. Vocalist Chris Ryan provides a bleak reality where his only solace is through the Punk-Rock music he gives himself too with a fist in the air.
‘One Hundred Meters’ is utterly relentless in its verses with guitars not far from vintage Strung Out or 88 Fingers Louis doing their best to keep in time with the quicker percussion. No Quarter break into a Bad Religion-esque chorus with ease, hinting having done their homework well.
‘Abandon Ship This Fucker’s Sinking’ is another sad lament towards the state of decay of contemporary society alongside sombre but anthemic technical riffs and further unreal pace from Micka Martin and his brutalised set of skins.
Fans of fellow Aussies Bombs Are Falling from Melbourne may find something here via such relentless Skate Punk. ‘The Air Up There’ sounds like far more jagged Pulley or Implants with another stellar chorus flying higher before the determined and melodic ‘Second Rate’.
‘I.K.Y’ tones it down completely. No Quarter lean further towards Pulley and 90’s Pop-Punk influenced track with perhaps their punchiest chorus chord progression yet. ‘I.K.Y’ is a welcome break from the exceptional but sometimes exhausting pace of Freedom, showing the band in a different light.
‘Bottle Tops and Jameson Shots’ is perhaps the “stupid punk song” of the release but also a classic slice of the 90’s Punk-Rock sound that inspired so much. ‘Metrofucks’ rages again elitist ideals and culture while ‘KFC’ is yet another blast in this latter half of Freedom where No Quarter aim for a lighter-hearted and more playful sound.
No Quarter are essentially dividing their album in two. The strong socio-politics run with good continuity as do the abrasive riffs but with that said, the former half is far more aggressive, punchy and borders on classic Melodic Hardcore while the latter half focuses more on classic and melodic 90’s Skate Punk. This break in stylistics in an album so niche is precarious move to say the least but despite the stark contrast, is actually very well implemented.
In fact, it works so well that either “side” of the record could easily be the format a full-length in each respective approach. In short, this is very well written modern Skate Punk album full of convictions and enough riffs and melodies for days, weeks and months and it gives no quarter.
Find them:
- Social Media/Updates: Facebook.
- Music: bandcamp, bandcamp (label).
- Melodic Punk Style: Facebook, bandcamp, Official Website.
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