SYSTEM RESET
Many Hands Make Lies Work (self-released)
Following on from their debut album Epidemic, which blended humour with social and political commentary, mainly aimed at various Tory failures and mental health issues, Abertillery punks System Reset are back with a brand new EP – and, unfortunately, not a lot has changed in the two years since Epidemic was released, which has clearly fuelled the boys further.
Many Hands Make Lies Work includes the addition of drummer Sturdy to the fold, whose pounding skin work has given them something of a hardcore edge, whilst vocalist Stan is developing a voice akin to a young Greg Graffin. They still deliver fast-as-hell, Snuff-on-steroids-style punk, but – whether they like it or not! – there’s a maturity that’s crept in to System Reset’s songwriting.
This is punk rock tailor-made for sweaty little shows, for beers to be swung around to and for the woah-ohs to be screamed out at the top of your lungs. Musically, Many Hands Make Lies Work is a party; lyrically, it’s a state of the UK address, and isn’t that what the best punk rock is supposed to be about?
words CHRIS ANDREWS