Soldier 76 - Power It Up download mp3 flac

The only EP from this Fresno band. Two of these tracks are taken from their only LP, Balance Of Armour, released the same year through Vulture Rock. The A-side is classic, anthemic street punk. It starts with the melody from My Country Tis Of Thee, and charges straight into a solid rocker. As you might expect, the lyrics are historical and patriotic. The instruments and vocals are nicely balanced in the mix. The B-side, though, is where this single begins to go in the wrong direction. Football Firm is faster, but the lyrics are more repetitive and the music is simpler, which makes the song plod along. Finishing off this EP is the worst track, A Call To Arms. Judging from its title, it should be an anthemic tune that spurs skinheads to action. Instead, it's a meandering instrumental that sounds like a bunch of guitar bits that were thrown together in the studio. It's no wonder this didn't end up on their album.
If you're a completist, this might be worth picking up. If you're a casual listener, stick with the A-side.