SSS - Problem to the Answer (Earache)

Never has a band been more aptly named than Short Sharp Shock, or SSS as they're better known. Problem to the Answer, their third album on legendary label Earache, delivers a constant stream of punk rock mayhem that marries Bay Area thrash to NYHC whilst also having an affair with good old spitting British Punk.

At 25 songs in length, Problem to the Answer is no brief musical outing; it's a full-on directory of SSS's heritage and credentials. Drummer Dave Ferguson beats the tubs to within an inch of their life and Mark Magill hammers the tits off of his bass, whilst axeman Pete Broom screeches in and out of Municipal Waste riffs and Megadeth solos to create a wall of musical ire. Thrash influences aside, at it's heart this is a truly punk rock album. 

With the exception of Future Primitive and epic finale Strangenotes, SSS try to keep the songs no longer than two minutes and allow the listener just enough time for a quick breather between each of the tunes. The grind influences can't be ignored either; six second songs and a cameo from Barney Greenway of Napalm Death on three songs? That's about as grind as music gets.

The most refreshing thing about SSS is it feels real. You can't fake this sort of music and if you try, you will fail. In an era of nauseating, imaculate-haired, pretty colourful sleeve-tattooed, pop-punk bullshit an album like Problem to the Answer isn't a breath of fresh air; it's a dirty great Doctor Marten up the back fanny of the punk rock scene.

SSS haven't produced an album that's breaking down musical barriers, nor is it full of crowd-pleasing anthems. However, Problem to the Answer is an example of balls to the wall, like-it-or-fuck-off music. It's thrash or die chaos and exemplifies that (are you listening Throwdown?) it is possible to bring two huge genres together without losing the soul of the band. Good work.

Problem to the Answer is out on June 6th through Earache