Album Review: Silverstein - Short Songs

The latest release from Canada’s Silverstein is exactly what it says it is. Blasting out 22 tracks in under 20 minutes, 'Short Songs' is as punchy as it is brief. Split down the middle with the last half of the record a collection of covers of punk bands that influenced ranging from Gorilla Biscuits to Green Day, Dead Kennedys to Descendents. Silverstein had a tendency be on the more screamo side of the fence, but ‘Short Songs’ - named after the cover of the Dead Kennedys' track appearing on the album - places itself firmly on the heavier end of the punk spectrum.

Opener 'Sick As Your Secrets' is a killer of an introduction, just over a minute of pure riffage. 'SOS' is another home run from Silverstein and keeps up the momentum of the record. 'Short Songs' is full of sweet, frenzied blasts such as 'My Miserable Life' and 'Truth & Temptation'.

The covers half of the record is a nice insight into the bands influences with tracks from classic punk albums like NOFX’s ‘So Long & Thanks for All the Shoes’ and Descendents’ ‘Everything Sucks’.

I think the Dead Kennedys summed it up nicely: "I like short songs."

4/5

'Short Songs' is out February 7th through Hopeless Records.

Chantelle 'Kiki' Goodchild