In recent years, there has been a fantastic crop of new melodic punk/ hardcore bands coming through in the UK, recent favourites include Tearjerker and Fast Blood, and with this, their debut EP, Warrington’s Great Silence throw their hat into the ring in style.

The four-piece picks their ingredients from the finest sources – rumbling basslines and a pounding beat provide the backdrop for layers of guitars dripping in mood and harmony. I love it when you can get your teeth into a sound and explore the many little melodies that pop up here and there contributing to the overall sound. Vocals are shared between three band members and it’s a powerful combination of cleaner and gruff vocals.

There are plenty of modern comparisons I could add, but it’s a style that Stiff Little Fingers pioneered – Great Silence keeps that flag flying high. As the songs roll on, I notice more and more musical flourishes that mean these guys are a cut above – just listen to some lovely bass-runs in The Way It Is for some stunning evidence. Overall, I’m reminded of  Epic Problem meets the Down & Outs and early Doughboys – and that is high praise indeed. The soundtrack to the Summer is here. Tom Chapman