Gangway! – “Young Hearts”
Surprisingly enough I’ve never been in a gang. And I’ve never been in the army. But I have been in a band, about twenty or twenty five of them. And being in a band is how I imagine being in a gang or the army is.
It’s a group of like minded individuals, a pack, a family and you don’t ask questions when you’re asked to sacrifice. You do as you’re told- for the good of the group, the gang, the army.
When I was young there were three things I wanted to avoid. One was jail, one was the army and one was marriage. All seemed like a giving up of choice. I did avoid all until very late when I got married. And now it seems the army or jail would’ve been a better choice for me.
Gangway is the name of this band, see there is a rhythm and reason to this. And I bet anybody who’s been in a band relates to what I say about it being a gang, and you always have a leader.
I don’t think being in a gang is a positive thing. I think it’s better to be an individual and it’ll probably keep you out of jail, but a joining together can be a great thing, like I see in the punk community. A bunch of strongly individualistic people finding a place where they can be themselves and be accepted with other outcasts, weirdos and malcontents.
Which leads us, finally, to the band Gangway.
Gangway I’d say is a pop/punk band with a lot of hardcore grit and passion in their style. They describe themselves as, “hardcore punk, ska and everything in between,” which is true, also. But we can quibble over categories or we can listen to a pretty great cd. I choose the later.
“What We Say” starts out with a single sharp guitar chord busting forth and followed with a nice melodic bass line several times. But when the song kicks in all hell breaks loose with a healthy scoop of energy and exuberance flowing. The vocals aren’t melodic but rather harsh and emphatic as the song plows along. “We make mistakes, along the way/ Forgive and forget is what we say.” The terrific chorus rings out with shout-a-long backup vocals answering. “We’re ignorant and stupid/ We don’t give a fuck/ We don’t care what you say so just shut the fuck up.” After the second verse the intro is repeated and leads in to a blistering white hot guitar solo. The chorus comes back in to complete, what I say, is a near perfect song.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/02 What We Say.mp3|titles=What We Say]“Young Hearts” starts out with a hyperactive rolling drum beat that precedes a blasting bass line leading into a verse with angry, anguished vocals that gives way to slashing,smashing chords while the drums drive energetically on. The chords become more staccato and sharp in the chorus. A breakdown towards the end starts with drums by itself until the lethal knife like guitars start slicing. “Stand up, stand together/ United forever.” A hard rockin’ beat leads this passionate call to arms song to an end.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/05 Young Hearts.mp3|titles=Young Hearts]“Bikini Island” starts with drums a bass answering with a note or two before a ska guitar and ska verse enters. But by the time the chorus breaks in we’re thrust into hardcore territory with screaming, intense vocals and grinding, aggressive guitar. “You gotta be crazy/ Don’t know what you’re doing/ You make no sense/ See what you get.” Then the chords grind along with a breakdown part that inexplicably brings us back to the ska part. But not for long as soon we’re crashing once again into the volcanic, venom spewing chorus erupting again- a great tune.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/03 Bikini Island.mp3|titles=Bikini Island]“Dystopia” starts with a simple but effective rock beat and a four chord eight note bass riff giving off the vibe of a Pixies song, a band that would veer off into hardcore at times. A spoken word part against corporate life pops in. “And I’ll do whatever it takes to get to the top.” After a short pause it’s like the roof has exploded into outer space with pile driving rhythms and frantic, growling vocals. A little breakdown towards the end only gives pause to fuel fire once again and again until this excellent song obviously, goes out in a fit of fury.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/04 Dystopia.mp3|titles=Dystopia]So Gangway! Are from Long Island, New York home of what was my favorite current New York band Live Fast Die Fast- who put in their resignation papers recently.
I put Gangway! In with the best of the rest of our pop/punk bands who aren’t afraid to put the grit and passion of hardcore into their music. I put them along sides OC45, The Down and Outs, Sound Off and Jumper.
Pretty good company and I’d say this band is a welcome surprise of a band that just sent us something. This is a band we’ve never seen, though we hope that changes, just like Live Fast Die Fast did a few years ago.
So make way for Gangway, they want to stake their claim, their spot on the scene, their place on TNB.
I’d say they already have.
(Slimedog)
