Album Review: Second Landing by Giant Eagles (by Chris Bishton)

There's something about European punk at the moment. So many great bands. So many great records. (Check out the release CPRW put out recently, Adventures in Europe, showcasing 21 bands from different countries throughout Europe if you don't believe me). But, sadly, so many often overlooked.

Maybe it's because all the European festivals have been called off along with countless shows and tours? Maybe it's because it's increasing difficult and expensive for bands to tour even pre-COVID? Maybe it's just because the scene has a lot of great bands at the moment and it's just a very crowded place to get heard? I don't know. What I do know though is that Giant Eagles and their new album Second Landing, seriously needs your attention.

Formed from members of Apers, Windowsill, Accelerators and Lone Wolf, you'll probably be familiar with their work. As the album title suggests, this is the second from these Dutch punks, although they've been playing music together for 17 years. They are accomplished musicians, yet they've never played live. Their one and only scheduled show, a festival in Italy, was cancelled this year due to COVID. So perhaps this lack of shows and just two albums in 17 years is the reason that this particular band aren't huge? I doubt it, but I'm still baffled why Europe's punk bands still don't seem to get the recognition others, particularly in the US, sometimes do.

Anyway... the album Second Landing, broadly speaking, is 12 very catchy pop punk-type songs about subjects as diverse and random as a zombie apocalypse, wars with robots and killer snakes fitted into just over 30 minutes. There's more than an element of 80s Ramonescore to the songs (they used to call themselves Real Ramoneroonies until they changed it to Giant Eagles) and there's elements of even older style post-punk, synth-laden songs in there as well. David Bowie fans will also be able to pick out influences from the master.

The first track, Bloodlust Tonight, demonstrates this perfectly – it's not as frantic as a full on Ramomes song, which leaves room for the synth. It reminds me a lot of The Lillingtons/Teenage Bottlerocket and some Misfits, but without being a total frenzy.

This leads into the second track, Everything is Lost. If you love your woah-oh sing-a-longs, this is the track for you – they punctuate it throughout. It's mid-paced, hook-heavy, sing-a-long stuff with that synth in there as well, which is then followed by a the speedier third track, My Wish Is Your Command.

My favourite song is Evil Robot Nation. It's certainly "out there" in the sense that it's about a woman fighting a war with robots in 500 years time! But it's sooo catchy, this subject just seems to fit so well with the melody. I'm not sure everyone would classify this as a punk rock song, such is the synth so evident on this one, but I don't care... it's brilliant, however you want to classify it. The same might even be said about the tracks I Don't Love Nobody and Supreme – both very new wave, rather than full on punk.

The killer snakes track is Anacoda. Uncomplicated, repetitive and also super catchy. You'll know the lyrics and the melody back to front after your first listen. It's a lot of fun.

Out Of Love is another great track. One that's more straight forward, sing your heart out pop punk – Mr T Experience meets Screeching Weasel.

The other songs such as Lost My Heart Overseas, Southbound, the aforementioned Zombie Apocalypse and the last track, Put One In The Chamber, make up the album. All great songs that fit together to make one of my favourite albums released so far this year.

Second Landing is available from Shield Recordings in Europe and Moms Basement in the US and, if you're a one of those vinyl-type people, the artwork alone kinda makes this worth having. The Giant Eagle in a space suit is as eye catching as it is brilliant.

Lastly, Giant Eagles have been referred to quite a lot as a "supergroup" and, recently on CPRW, I mused that punk had never really given us a really great "supergroup." I now take that back. Giant Eagles... super punks.

Stream and download Second Landing on Bandcamp here.

Like Giant Eagles on Facebook here.

This review was written by Chris Bishton.