Oi oi, moderate length of time, no write! I’m reviewing a cheeky split EP this time, featuring Leicester-based Our Souls and local (Peterborough) outfit Sprainer.

I first saw/caught wind of Our Souls during last year’s Half Drunk Club festival in Leicester, where they brought Firebug down as one of the few non-acousticy/ska/reggae-ish acts on for the Sunday matinee.

Together with fellow punk band Sprainer, they called a ‘Truce’ over something or other, sharing two songs each on this release from April this year. So that’s lovely. Let’s dive in…

1. Old Dogs, Old Tricks (Our Souls)

‘Truce’ blazes into one’s listening devices (also known as ears) with a number about feeling unable to shift from unhealthy coping mechanisms.

‘Old Dogs, Old Tricks’ discusses feelings of hangover, regret, but then familiar routine. Despite being able to “recognise the signs”, difficulties are had in avoiding going back to the bottle “when things get too much”.

The shortest track on the split at under two minutes, there is a delightful guitar solo to round it out nicely.

2. Anniversaries (Our Souls)

‘Anniversaries’ goes into a determination to simply “get by” in times of hurt. There is more space for interspersed riffs here compared to the previous track, which feel like proxies for intense, solitary thought.

Going through a cycle of quiet downplaying; talking and being worried about oversharing; and numbness, the song discusses the unpredictability that grief can bring.

While admitting exaggerations that there’s “no fucking way I can go on”, ever present feelings of loss are nonetheless faced head on.

3. Slip Sliding (Sprainer)

Now, for Sprainer’s bit of disk. ‘Slip Sliding’ talks about being unsatisfied and angry with relations with a certain person, and wanting to set the story straight.

Unable to properly give their side of the conflict without thinking things through, the protagonist decries the “straight up handshake talk” that occurs from the other side. There is an evident inability to get closure, without truly getting across true feelings.

Alongside the cleaner vocals, also notable is the ever so brief calming down of the riffs in the start of the second verse, lasting all of two lines before reverting to type.

4. Dizzy Head (Sprainer)

Finally, there is ‘Dizzy Head’, which continues to explore an inability to express true meanings and gain closure, along with the possibility that “we just talk and talk with only trace of meaning”.

With the head spinning in an attempt to know how others perceive the protagonist, there is a mental battle to know how to feel, day-to-day.

This train of thought is symbolised by the moon and night sky, with the feared desire to know what people are truly thinking coming with the risk that it “might never ease the nausea”.

Closing Remarks

If you’re into the melodic but raw sounds from the likes of Lagwagon and Iron Chic, you will probably enjoy the work of these two bands.

Basically, I really enjoyed this split EP, and will certainly be keeping my bloggy feelers out (ew no, just say ears, Aaron 😑) for both bands’ future activity.

As always, thanks so much for reading! Up the Posh, and up the Punx 🤘