Reviews

 Hailing from San Jose, California, Fire Drill is a four-piece band with  an old-school punk sound. The group's music could be described as  raw and unapologetic, focusing on capturing the urgency of the band's  performance. Formed during the pandemic, the group marked its debut with "Pterodactyl," a nine-song EP released in June 2023. This intuitive studio  work delivers a punchy, energetic sound, blending old-school aesthetics with a crisp production edge. Speaking of, the band adopted a true  DIY approach to this release, with bass player Andy recording and  mixing the EP. The gritty vocals and frenetic instrumentals create an unapologetically  intense atmosphere throughout the record, tipping the hat off to iconic  bands such as Bad Religion, Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys and Social Distortion, only to mention a few. While the EP captures the visceral and unrelenting intensity of 80s punk, there is room for other  ideas. The song "Cheezy Fries" has a playful energy with a 90s twist  and an articulate bass line that wouldn't be out of place on a classic  Rancid album! The title track is an all-out, riff-driven punk rock song packed in 22  seconds of pure attitude and fun. "State Of Panic" highlights the  band's darkest side while still staying true to the overall aesthetics of  this EP. Overall, Fire Drill's affinity with the sun-soaked California punk sound  is evident in their music, which combines aggression and melody in  equal parts. The group's integrity lies in its no-frills approach to music.  The band's stripped-down arrangement is all about huge guitars, soaring drums and melodic bass lines, serving as a perfect backbone for  the vocals to unfold. This approach highlights the importance of substance over style, and it is a refreshing change from the overproduced  and formulaic modern punk music that dominates the mainstream. Fire Drill's sound is undoubtedly a nod to the punk scenes of the 70s,  80s, and 90s, but it would be a mistake to write them off as just another nostalgia act. The band's music has a fresh immediacy that makes  it extremely relevant, bridging the gaps between the past, present and  future of punk rock as a form of self-expression. The band's lyrics are  also fiercely outspoken. Songs like "For Those Who Have Fallen" are  a great example. This song tells the story of 3 individuals, using the  narrative as a way to highlight issues such as depression, self-destructive behaviour, and even post-traumatic stress. Still, the band alternates such poignant narrative moments with "Only Fan," a track  that pokes fun at online dating scams and gold-diggers. Fire Drill excels when it comes to tracking amazing music, but there’s  something even more special about the way the group hits the stage.  Their no-compromise live shows are all about fast, hard-hitting songs,  and creating a spark of electricity that goes from the band, to the audience, and back, creating a circle of positive energy and galvanizing  power from the beginning to the end of the set. - Andrew L

San Jose punk rockers Fire Drill deliver the attitude with their first explosive EP, Pterodactyl, released

in the summer of 2023. This four-piece group showcases an old-school punk sound, reminiscent of the

early days of Dead Kennedys and The Germs. Standout songs include the meaningful anthem, For

Those Who Have Fallen and the energy-driven title track. Fire Drill is a band that understands punk

songs should be short but sweet to give the full impact on their listeners. Those who prefer the raw

sounds of early punk rock are guaranteed to want to lace up their boots and mosh to Pterodactyl at full

volume.

- Evangeline West,