On a pair of earlier singles, US punkers Fire Sale demonstrated a perfect blend of power and melody. By channelling the skate punk aspects of early No Use For A Name and the melodic elements of The Ataris, their material shared an instantly classic sound which seemed tailor made for lovers of 90s punk. Their contributions to this split EP with the mighty Pulley – one of the 90s more underrated melodic punk acts – are very much in the same vein, but this only suggests that Fire Sale are the kind of band that genre fans can take to heart without fear of disappointment.
‘An Archaic Construct’ powers forth with a pounding drum coupled with an atonal, chopping guitar riff, immediately signifying one of the hardest Fire Sale tracks to date. After setting an intense rhythm in place, the verse explodes into a world of melodic skate punk, centred more around the expected No Use For A Name inspired sound. Although it finds Fire Sale in a relative comfort zone, the playing is stellar, and an enthused vocal puts in some hard yards to ensure nothing sounds too safe. The verse is great, but it’s the chorus that shares the real magic here; shifting into more of a melodic tone, sometime Ann Beretta man Pedro Aida tackles a broad punk melody that shares a lot of DNA with classic Millencolin, before an unexpected twin lead guitar break adds even more of a rocky edge. In a little over three minutes, this does everything you’d hope for from a slice of melodic skate, and will confirm any feelings that Fire Sale might just be one of the scene’s greatest bands at the time of this release.
By making an even better use of Fire Sale’s two guitar set up, ‘Call of The Void’ makes a bigger play for melody from the outset, when guitarist Chris Swinney drives the kind of riff he would’ve taken to glory in his days with The Ataris, whilst a solid rhythm section power forth with a punky intent. The riffs remain pleasingly solid – although not necessarily surprising, if you’re already familiar with the Fire Sale sound – but this number is ultimately sold by another superb vocal from Pedro. Although some light filtering appears to be employed, his presence is huge, and soaring through a superb pop punk chorus (sounding equal parts ‘Astoria’ era Ataris, late period No Use, and melodic Millencolin), he shows off a genuine talent that, after years in the business, instinctively understands what “works”. You might have heard similar fare from Fire Sale in the past, but very little that hits with such immediacy.
On the flip, a pair of numbers by punk veterans Pulley don’t quite summon the same levels of greatness, but for fans, both tracks will present solid additions to the band’s catalogue. With its relentless drumming and abrasive guitar work, ‘Torn Apart By Time’ kicks off like a throwback to NOFX circa ‘White Trash…’, but with the aid of much better vocals, quickly straddles the gulf between thunderous rhythms and a great melody. Whilst the music sticks fairly rigidly to “90s punk 101”, occasionally lifted by a very smart bassline, the vocals are left to do most of the heavy lifting here. Throughout the performance, whether attacking the verse lines in a solo fashion or topping some great chorus harmonies, Scott Radinsky sounds absolutely superb – an equal match for Fire Sale’s Pedro as a consummate punk frontman. The speed of this number means it’ll take a few plays to stick, but once it does, it’s set to become a favourite. It’s certainly a match for Pulley’s 90s output.
‘Write A Note If You Leave’ sounds, at first, like it’ll deliver much more of the same. …And indeed, a few of the track’s speedier riffs and lead bass fills verge upon being Pulley by numbers, but parts of the verse make a concerted effort to feel a little different when the guitars fall away to allow Sean Sellers to take centre stage with a huge drum sound which hints upon a blend of tribal and melodic hardcore influences. This bigger focus on the drums gives Pulley a much bigger punch all round, but for the traditionalists, Radinsky is still on hand with a strong melodic delivery throughout. With a touch of Bad Religion’s influence colouring a great chorus – but without the feeling of being endlessly lectured to/told off – this, in time, could sound better than first impressions suggest.
In terms of punk, both Fire Sale and Pulley are different enough to make this interesting – one taking a skate edge into the realms of the more melodic, the other keeping the flame of 90s US punk sounds very much alive with their traditional skill set – and yet both compliment each other perfectly. Maybe it has something to do with Matt Riddle having a history with both acts (currently the bassist with Fire Sale, he played with Pulley between 1994-1997), but its more than that. Both acts clearly understand the importance of a great melody and are able to summon up great sounds at the point where some of the scenes other veterans just sound tired, or completely washed up. If you’re looking for something with a brilliantly nostalgic punky pull, then this split should more than fit the bill. Even with a few predictable elements present, this is a highly recommended listen.
August 2025