I know what you're thinking. Enough of the mealy-mouthed "woe is me" crap. Enough abstract electronic head space music. Enough skin-peeling metal. Time to rock some punchy pop hardcore that is loud enough to raise the heartbeat and tuneful enough to sing along.

Ship Thieves Irruption EP (Chunksaah)

Ship Thieves arrive bearing their fourth album--and the first since 2016's No Anchor. Chris Wollard (Hot Water Music) is still the driving force, and he's driving hard. My previous take on these boys is that they have nicely updated the whole Pegboy/Naked Raygun sound. I'd like to amend that. There's not a lot of updating. Because there's no need for updating.

Hot Water Music also played in these waters, so that's a fair touchpoint as well. Many band try to make music that is this crunchy and addictive. Most fail. Wollard has a pretty good feel for this sort of thing, and once again he doesn't disappoint. These songs have a few new wrinkles on the lyrical side of things, but the music is just as brutally catchy as ever.

Spring is coming, and this year spring means a lot more than is usually does. Roll down the windows and wrench the volume all the way to the right. Ship Thieves are here to pulverize (in a wonderfully boot-stomping manner), and there's nothing better than flying down the road with your ears on fire. My heart is still racing.

Jon Worley