In 2022, Austrian punks Sweatpants Party released a self-titled debut album which encapsulated a superb blend of sharp edged pop punk and classic sounding Ramonescore. It was the kind of record that seemed set to take on Screeching Weasel at their own game, but with a combination of fun songs and a frontman far less likely to punch women in public, it actually bested the Chicago veterans, paving the way to more greatness in the future. Two years on, ‘Wee Little Songs’ took the band’s sound further into Weasel territory, and by packing twelve songs into just eight minutes, the material harked back to the fun fillers on Kevin Aper’s old Apers records. If you didn’t love the Sweatpants gang after this, it’s likely you never would.
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SWEATPANTS PARTY – Sweatpants Party
A new band for 2022, the terribly named Sweatpants Party marks a long overdue return for the almost legendary Kevin Aper. Marketed as sounding “just like The Apers”, fans are automatically given a heads up as to what they can expect, and indeed, the new band’s core sound recycles many elements of Kevin’s past works brilliantly. Although working from a solid pop punk stock, there’s a little more to the Sweatpants, though, since this musical vehicle – teaming Kev with members of Jagger Holly and Stockkampf – takes in bubblegum punk and a little power pop along the way. The focus is on unashamed pop punk and trashy lyrics, of course, and that’s enough to win over The Apers’ entire fan base in a heartbeat.
GIANT EAGLES – Second Landing
A collaboration between members of Dutch punk bands The Windowsill and Accelerators, Giant Eagles takes both groups’ pop-punk roots, applies slabs of synthesiser and massive power pop choruses to create sounds that show off an almost equal love of Ramonescore and early 80s new wave. Seven years on from their debut, the Eagles’ comeback disc ‘Second Landing’ presents thirty two minutes of near perfection, where catchy as hell choruses mesh with some brilliantly constructed and shamelessly retro tunes.