Recently I downloaded a new app where I get XP points for doing certain things throughout the day. One of those things is discover a new band or artist that you love. I love doing that anyway so there's some easy XP points for me! I jumped on to Bandcamp and quickly discovered NoPoint from St. Louis, Missouri, who had recently released a six song EP named Shove It. Originally attracted to the EP by the skateboarding crocodile, I soon discovered six fast and snotty skate punk tracks.
Shove It begins with the track Consumer. Starting out with some shredding lead guitar, there is an energy present from the beginning that had me wanting to get invested into the song. When guitarist Jesse's vocals come in we are treated to a fast and snotty snarl as he laments the consumer culture that is plaguing society at the moment. The song is played at a fast pace throughout which really helps to showcase the frustration that NoPoint have towards this topic. Up next is the song Push, which is ridiculously catchy. Slowing things down a little bit, Push is a song about having a great time with your pals skating and hoping you can keep doing it for the rest of your life. I love the positivity in the song, it sounds as if NoPoint don't have a care in the world and are having more fun than ever.
The third song is named Dog. Sadly the positivity doesn't remain for NoPoint as this song is about being treated horribly in your job. Again it's super catchy, particularly the chorus as Jesse sings "treat me like a dog" while another member of the band shouts some harmonies. This really helps with the sing-along aspect of the track. Mr. No Fun is up next and has another shred-until-you're-dead intro. There's a bit of an old school 80s skate punk vibe to the song, making me think back to early NOFX. The production feels a bit rawer to the previous tracks as well which helps with the whole tone of the song. On the track, NoPoint talk about the people with responsibilities like jobs and families who aren't fun anymore. I guess there's a frustration there as they miss friends who have gone down a different route with their life.
The penultimate song on Shove It is T.V. This track is about how people are controlled by their television sets. It's a social commentary about folk these days whose lives seem to centre around the screen in the corner of your living room. There is plenty of snarl and venom in the vocals that give you the impression that NoPoint are really angry at this situation and they're making me feel the same. Lastly we have the song Banger, which is a three minute instrumental track. It starts out slowly before really picking up some pace. The track really shows off some great musicianship but it did leave me yearning for some vocals to come in for me to really lose my beans to it.
Shove It is a fantastic introduction to NoPoint. It showcases a band that write fantastic skate punk songs with strong messages but also know how to have a lot of fun. If you loved early Fat Wreck Chords then NoPoint are without a doubt a band you should be checking out.
Stream and download Shove It here: https://nopoint.bandcamp.com/releases
Like NoPoint here: https://www.facebook.com/NoPoint-960293064167049/
This review was written by Colin Clark.
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