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P.O Box

Spaceavailable

Written by: MAK on 09/01/2024 13:50:38

One of drastically underrated ska-punk albums of 2023 comes from P.O Box, who released their fifth full-length album, Spaceavailable a good nine years after their 2014 album “F#Rt#R”.

The album opener “Ouroboros” kicks off more like a skate-punk track, crunchy riffs, double time drums and a plucky bassline that is right up the alley of Rancid and NOFX, all of this topped off by sing-shout vocals along with some inviting “WOOAAHH” chants to join in on. it’s a quick 95 second wave to get the blood flowing. You wouldn’t expect any ska influence at all until the horns blast their way in for a punchy ending. This swiftly sets up “Dear Ed’” to showcase more of their ska-punk side with some skaworthy upstrokes mixed in with the distorted hooks.

For the most part, the P.O Box style uses more of a rough around the edges approach to the ska-punk genre, it’s more angst ridden, designed more for mosh pits than to get people dancing, that’s not to say the melodic side isn’t there. Structuring Structured Structures switches seamless from aggressive riffs and pulsing horns to chilled out reggae vibes. The calmer outro transitions perfectly to the more melodic hit “Comité Invisible” which features JB Conspiracy’s vocalist Lank. The tone of the track stands out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the album, it’s much slower, more of reggae inspired number, but it allows the band to musicians to exhibit their talents further with more intricacy than all out blasts. With the guest vocals being so distinctive you could easily mistake this for a JB conspiracy song, the tone suits them more.

Other guests include Tree House Fire’s Sam Rothon on “From Alamo to Tobago”, another track that leans more on the reggae-punk influence, perhaps the most chilled out track on the album. It’s another track that perhaps suits the style of the band the vocals guest from, while unleashing a big emphatic crescendo to give the track some oomph. “Dancing In Your Shoes” however bucks that trend with an all out fun, dancable ska-punk track which utilises guest vocals from Bad Cop/Bad Cop’s Stacey Dee. it’s a high-tempo jaunty number will bouncy brass hooks and uplifting upstrokes to get you moving. The type of track which is welcomed as it sandwiched between two of the fastest tracks on the album. Both “April 13” and “Now” are relentless, gritty skate punk hits with pulsing brass segments that just add intensity, designed to be pure circle pit starters.

Spaceavaible comes across as the very definition of ska and punk, it doesn’t settle particularly more to one side or the other. There is a solid mix of faster and aggressive tracks to get you going and it’s nicely balanced out with a few slower and fun hits too to keep it well rounded. In some cases you could argue with the angst that it’s a skacore album, but the influences are more fast and punchy like skate-punk than heavy like hardcore. Either way, this album is well suited for those that like their high tempo music and hint of angst and a lot of horns.

Download: Structuring Structured Structures, Dancing in Your Shoes, Dear Ed’
For the fans of: Faintest Idea, JB Conspiracy, Stand out Riot
Listen: Facebook

Release date 26.05.2023
KROD Records