Bishops Green are a Canadian band who have been spreading their streetpunk message since 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over two albums and a handful of EPs and singles they have made their mark far beyond their homeland of Vancouver, British Columbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They’re hard-hitting but melodic in the same way as much-loved UK bands like Stiff Little Fingers and Cock Sparrer and ’80s US bands like Naked Raygun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their music is raw, anthemic, and full of passion and pride, and I’d go as far as to say this record – not quite an album but, with seven tracks, more than an EP – is their best yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s their first release since 2016’s Back To Our Roots<\/em>, and they’ve undergone a double personnel change since then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two of the original members – vocalist Greg Huff and drummer Orville Lancaster – remain, and they’re joined in the latest line-up by Rob Schwitzer on guitar and Troy Zak on bass and backing vocals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Skies<\/em> is the sound of Bishops Green emerging into the post-pandemic world, having their say and sounding REALLY FUCKING ANGRY about the last couple of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last Minute Warning<\/em> is a thunderous opening track, which I’m guessing is about the pandemic with its payoff “too many zeros, too many lives, so much sorrow, so many lies”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Empty Streets<\/em> ups the anger even further, looking back to that time in March 2020 when people around the world were told to stay at home to be safe from a deadly virus that we knew so little about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What For <\/em>is a particularly poignant slice of political punk in a world where the madman Putin ordered Russian forces to invade Ukraine? Over and over again it demands: “Are you fighting, what are you fighting for?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Side two kicks off with Ravens Cry<\/em>, whose refrain of “ravens calling, dark clouds, black skies” give the record its name, as it warns “conspiracy starts to grow in these darker times”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rich and famous who’ve had life too easy are the target of Your Paradox<\/em>, while No Tomorrow<\/em> is perhaps the bleakest song here, not written from the viewpoint of someone waiting for a train, as the lyrics suggest, but apparently from the mindset of someone whose life seems to have run out of options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Things are brought to a stunning close with Another Mourning<\/em>, which seems to pay tribute to the victims of the pandemic, and promises “we will follow you, voices is in our hearts”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I described Bishops Green’s sound as ‘hard-hitting’ earlier in this review, but that doesn’t even begin to sum up this record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lots of bands have written songs about the Covid-19 outbreak and its effects. Few have done it with such power and passion. This is an absolutely essential record if you like your punk rock loud, full of fire, with a real message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’ve only seen Bishops Green live once, at Rebellion Festival back in 2014. They return to Blackpool this year, and on this evidence I’d say they’re absolutely unmissable. 9\/10.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n