Four-piece Bear Trade, hailed from the depths of North East England describe their sound as ‘stabby/chuggy/jaggy’ and that it is. Their debut offering Blood And Sand is nothing short of a laid-back, no nonsense, stripped back punk-rock triumph. With the list of other bands these four men play in, and have played in reaching the high heavens, its no wonder Bear Trade’s introduction is one of placid captivation.
The record opens with a 40 second teaser in the shell of ‘Another One For The List’. Its buoyant, yet serene tone sets the scene for a festival-like feel; standing in a sunshine laden field, with nothing but beers and mates. Its optimism filters into ‘Bleedin’ Heart Trouble’ with a guitar charged momentum and Sharks feel to it. The track allows Greg Robson‘s undeniable Sunderland vocal accent to be introduced, that refreshingly isn’t trying to be something its not.
Vocals throughout the record aren’t the only tribute to the band’s Northern roots. Tracks display their lifestyle and background within their lyrical content. ‘Don’t Forget You’re Going To Die’ opens with a man offering beer in your expected stereotypical thick Northern accent. Whilst the track doesn’t display the best of Robson’s vocals, its take on living in once industrial towns intrigues. The use of quirky track intros and outros is also seen in ‘Anathema’. Its story-telling attitude provides a cynically bittersweet tone in amongst foundations of rapid guitar riffs, and at times chanting vocality.
Whilst Blood And Sand achieves its goals of being simplistic and boisterous, some diversity to the record wouldn’t go a miss. Its haste and song structures through constant riffs at times become complaisant, and not captivating enough. Closer ‘Dead Leg’ hints at attempting a slower notion, but doesn’t carry the same level of talent the record opened with so actively.
Despite this, pair ‘Nice Boots’ and ‘Postcards’ ooze what Bear Trade set out to do: ‘some men with a love of the punk and the rock and the beers and the gigs and the just having fun’. Whilst this record isn’t the most groundbreaking, it certainly is one of old fashioned punk-rock proportions that is hard to not have fun to. Its stripped back personality and Northern stance will capture and delight the ears of many.
