Blood Sweat and Beers is the new 13-track album from Swansea based rockers The Arteries. It’s a combination of their 3 10″ records and a new tune thrown in. When the previous 10″s sold out it’d only make sense to bring out an album to get the word out. Collectively the album is a party from start to finish bringing meaning to the title Blood Sweat and Beers.
It opens up with No Guts, No Glory. A frenzy of riffs echoes throughout the song and the odd solo is thrown in here and there. That description sounds like it’s a predominantly metal album but you’d be fooled to think that. The band’s main vocation is pop punk but with the twist of adding genuinely good riffs and great instrument playing. The songs are a hell of a lot of fun to listen too and give off the impression that this was a fun album to make.
When I listen to Blood Sweat and Beers I get the urge to go see these guys live, as I’m sure the ethic of the music rubs off in the live show as well. The song Shortcuts opens up with a bluesy riff in a punk rock tempo and it sounds great! Octaves soar throughout the songs sounding like more traditional Gainesville style pop punk at times. The choruses are huge in anthemic proportions and the radio friendly vocals style gives you plenty to sing along too.
For a pop punk album this certainly is as innovative as they can come. Breaking traditional 4 chord song boundaries of certain bands and not trying to rip off other influential pop punk bands. The band has a lot of musical ability and they aren’t afraid to show it. If you’re into pop punk, post hardcore, or even a more open-minded metal head this album could be for you. I’m even close to air guitaring sitting here writing this at the awesomeness of the solo in Major Threat. If The Arteries keep going in the direction they are, then it will definitely be blood sweat and beers all round.
Jonathan Teggert