Wasted Already is the new album from Vancouver based punk rockers Contra Code. Originally released in September of 2015 it has just be re-released through Florida's Bird Attack Records.
The opening song on Wasted Already is called Screwtape and
is a very fast, technical, melodic punk song. The vocals really stood out on
this song; more gruff and aggressive than I'm used to hearing with this genre
of punk rock. A fun way to kick the album off. Road Rash shows of the bands
skills with guitars, playing some ridiculously fast and technical guitar solos
throughout the song. There is so much intensity in this music and it really
gets my heart going. The use of gang vocals at the end of the song really gives
a great feeling of everyone being equal and will get a audience shouting back
at the band as loudly as they can. The third song - Pickabar - sees lead singer
Paul Sarrazin lay down some incredibly quick vocals to begin the song. This
really made the song catch my attention from the beginning and from then on I
loved the song more and more. If I were to go to gyms this would be the song
I'd put on my playlist. The energy omitting from the track is infectious.
Red Ass had me throwing my fists in the air pretty much
instantly. The vocals are delivered in more of a held back style than on the
previous songs and the music is not played at the breakneck speed I've become
accustomed to so far. It still manages to pack the same punch though, a
testament to the bands song writing skills. The fifth song on Wasted Already is
See Saw. The rapid fire drum roll at the start of the song before the gruff
shout of "A Punch To The Face" starts the song. Lovely, metaphorical
lyric intended or not. The passion and energy that comes from Sarrazin really
stands out and the gang vocals for the finale "Home Is WHERE THE HEART
IS!" is brilliant. Iron Herd sees Contra Code return to the 100mph
technical punk rock. It's only a short song but is very memorable. No second is
wasted as they burn through the track. The eighth song is titled Kill and takes
you on a ferocious musical rollercoaster. Amongst a master class of
musicianship there is a lovely mix of vocal styles, giving you a sense of
what's coming next. In the same song Sarrazin manages to go from soaring skate
punk to hardcore howl and everywhere in between.
The song Concrete has a great stop start approach with the
opening vocals, switching between gang and single vocals. The track is a
positive song about taking control of your life by not taking things too
personally. There is a fantastic shift in key during the chorus giving the song
a pop punk sound amongst the aggressive skate punk. Up next is Snap Crackle.
Snap Crackle is a track that features a whole load of tempo changes throughout,
giving it a fun and interesting sound. I'm completely in awe of the bands
musical ability here, playing as fast as they do and switching between styles
so effortlessly is really impressive. The penultimate song is titled Time
Lapse, beginning with even more fast paced technical guitars, I'm more and more
amazed with every song. This is one of the more accessible songs on Wasted
Already, leaving the shouts at home and focussing solely on the melodic vocals.
I like the lyrics "Rise Up, Take Back The Airwaves, Reach Out For Tales Of
Our Lives". The final song on Wasted Already is named Impressed. I was
very "Impressed" with this track; it’s a good way to finish the album
as it gives you a bit of everything from Contra Code without ever feeling
clustered.
Contra Code are a very talented band. Punk rock musicians
are not given anywhere near enough credit for the skill that they play their
instruments and that's a great shame. If you want an album that will get your
heat pounding, your fists flying and your head banging whilst being truly
amazed by some musicianship you could do much worse than checking out Wasted
Already.
Stream and download Wasted Already here: https://birdattackrecords.bandcamp.com/album/wasted-already
Like Contra Code here: https://www.facebook.com/contracode
Stream and download Wasted Already here: https://birdattackrecords.bandcamp.com/album/wasted-already
Like Contra Code here: https://www.facebook.com/contracode
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