Review Summary: 18 minutes of energetic ska punk.
GEBO GOMI is a split EP containing two bands within the ska punk genre. One of which is The Suicide Machines, a classic band in the genre with an essential album under their belts. The other band is Coquettish, who are a much smaller band with a lot to prove.
The EP starts off with The Suicide Machines.
Accelerate the Decline begins the EP with a bang, wasting no time in establishing the fact that the band has not lost their energy. Despite being a brief minute long track, it pummels through the speakers, creating a solid song.
Theatre of the Absurd is a more ska-oriented song that showcases the band's knack for solid political lyrics. This side of the EP leaves its mark with two standout tracks. One of them is the tremendously catchy
Awake. It feels like it was ripped out of the early 2000’s pop punk scene during the chorus while still containing the band's bitter, hardcore sound. Their side of the EP concludes with
Slipping Into Darkness, the other standout track here. The song is an energetic, politically charged rampager with unapologetically angry lyrics. The vocals here are great, and the track's intro has a thick, slow bassline with some strange guitar lines. It is definitely one of the more unique moments in The Suicide Machines catalogue and it fully pays off.
Coquettish’s half of the split manages to continue the energy and the momentum that The Suicide Machines brought in, which demonstrates that this band knows what they are doing.
You Decide displays their talent from the get go. The intro of the song has a great build up that erupts into this violent and hardcore sounding track.
Falling Down is a catchy, ska infused punk song and is definitely the highlight off this side. The heavier but still catchy
Burn continues the fury, culminating in an engaging and destructive breakdown.
Song #3 ends the split EP on a strong note with another catchy song featuring some great riffs and basslines.
However, Coquettish’s side does hold a few drawbacks. The first problem that is evident from the beginning is the more rough and unpolished vocals. Most of the time it does work and it really does suit the music, but at certain points it does get on my nerves. Another issue that arises is the lack of variety on this side of the split. While none of the songs here are bad, they do start to blend together, and it can be hard to tell them apart even after repeated listens.
Overall,
GEBO GOMI is a great EP with great performances from both bands. The energy is through the roof here, which is exactly what you want from a ska punk band. Neither band slows down, and every song here is captivating. This forms a fleeting eighteen minute long split EP that demands replays. There are a few issues, but the amount of enjoyment this EP creates lessens the severity of these problems.
