#loaded 45

Uniforms are from Dundee/Perth, Scotland and Loaded 45 are from Denver, Colorado, USA. An odd pairing for a split? No. That is the marvellous thing about DIY punk rock. You make new friends, you tour together and a bond is formed. Loaded 45 invited Uniforms to tour the States last year, and Uniforms repaid the favour by bringing Loaded 45 to the UK for a tour this year. All booked completely DIY, so it seems absolutely fitting that the bands should release a split 7” together. Not that many forms of music will see that sort of camaraderie.

Loaded 45 are up for first, and the band play straight up punk rock in the vein of early Fat Wreck / Epitaph releases. The music is far from offensive, but to me, it all sounds very similar to other bands who have done it before. Of the two songs on offer here, “Joe” is the better half with a far more sing-a-long vibe to it, and I imagine with a few drinks down, it would be a cracking in a live situation. Ultimately, the music is not breaking any boundaries, but it is a bunch of friends having a good time playing punk rock.

Uniforms take up the other half of the split, and to say this band has upped their game is an understatement. Only formed in 2011, the hard work is definitely paying off. Along with The Murderburgers, these guy's are truly giving Scottish punk rock a good name. They've already toured the States, played in Gainesville during The Fest, toured the UK twice (once with Loaded 45 and also with Cobra Skulls), as well as countless gigs throughout Scotland. The band are also part of the Make-That-A-Take Collective who are consistently bringing the best punk rock shows to Dundee. This is not a band who are waiting on people to do things for them, these guy's are getting their fingers out and doing it themselves. Anyway, to the music. Uniforms take on punk rock is bleak mixing the best bits of Nothington and Off With Their Heads along with a touch of Social Distortion added in. Deeker's lyrics are personal and honest, which adds extra heart to the music. Both tracks are stand outs, and definitely show growth in the bands music. However “The Trouble With Trying” is now my favourite Uniforms song. The backing vocals compliment the lead vocals so effectively, plus the catchy guitar hook throughout the song works so well. The band is going from strength to strength and show no signs of backing down. This is a good thing for the Scotland, and UK punk scene.

By the time you read this, I think the records will be shipping and you should be able to hold your own copy of the first Make-That-A-Take Records vinyl. Buy it and listen to it here.

<a href="http://makethatatakerecords.bandcamp.com/album/split" data-mce-href="http://makethatatakerecords.bandcamp.com/album/split">Split by UNIFORMS / Loaded 45</a>

(4/5)

Released in the UK on Make-That-A-Take Records (limited to 100 copies)