Label: Pee Records

Over the past couple of years, South Australia’s Pee Records has been steadily establishing itself as a bastion of quality independent music.  Specialising in both hardcore and melodic punk rock, the label has made a name for itself by consistently putting out high quality releases from bands like Damn The Empire, Bad Day Down and Driven Fear.   What makes Pee Records really stand out from the crowd however is their peculiar ability to sign talented international groups apparently at will that Australian audiences would otherwise not be exposed to.  Point in case, Finland’s Part Time Killer; rising from the ashes of the defunct Flippin’ Beans in 2008, Pee Records somehow managed to snap the band up for the release of their debut 7 inch, Fuck The World.  With a style comprising equal parts 80’s hardcore and 90’s skatepunk, this is a brief yet promising debut from Part Time Killer that is hopefully a good indicator of things to come from the group.

The EP’s frenetic opening title track rips by in just over a minute and a half, displaying not only the group’s strong Bad Religion and Adolescents style backing harmonies but also Eppu’s dominating drum work.  While lyrically simplistic, a catchy melody ensures that the track stays firmly planted in the listeners mind long after the vinyl has finished spinning.  Next up is the longer and more complex “Kill ‘Em All”, another lightning paced song that mixes things up instrumentally with some very Lagwagon-esque stopping and starting.  Just breaking the three minute mark, the track is the EP’s longest and possibly its centrepiece.

Fuck The World’s B-sides continue to build upon Part Time Killers’ mix of hardcore and melody, most notably on “Your Life Story”.  Built around a simple but punishing chordal riff, Eppu’s drumming once again comes to the fore during a well placed mid-track breakdown.  The song also features some of the band’s best lyrics and singing, with both gang vocals and multi-part harmonies being deployed throughout.  At just over two minutes long, the track is overall a success because it manages to be both interesting and concise.

Showcasing four tracks in ten minutes, Fuck The World whips by quickly but enjoyably.  With an upcoming full length from the group promised by Pee Records in early 2011, fans of both skatepunk and melodic hardcore should definitely check out this 7 inch.  Strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide, buyers are also provided with a digital download link to make sure that the EP can be listened to everywhere and not just on your grandpa’s broken down record player.  Copies can be purchased directly from the Pee Records webstore.