Arch Rivals - One More Round

Randale Records

 

At the end of last year UK’s Arch Rivals positively surprised me with their debut EP “On Our Own” on Shout Proud Records. I wasn’t the only one as it got this Plymouth formation in contact with the ladies over at Randale Records who now proudly present the band’s debut full-length album “One More Round”!

 

Unlike the rest of the new wave of Britain’s close shave, Arch Rivals’ Oi! sound is much more influenced by melodic punkrock and even some ska rhythms here and there. Although this was something you could already hear on the “On Our Own” EP, they developed their sound and songs rapidly making the intro and remaining eleven tracks that “One More Round” holds come out ten times stronger compared to last year’s debut 7”!

 

With the best of Control and Argy Bargy, the love for drinking, hooliganism, friends and family and the despise of posers, politicians and the big boss man, Arch Rivals deliver a powerful mix of sharp lyrics, easy to remember sing-alongs and a ton of melodic guitar work. Favorite tracks are “The Crowd” with its ska-ish refrain and anthemic chorus with a little organ in it and the sentimental “Always & Forever”, an ode to loved ones who unfortunately were taken from us too soon.

 

Although those are two of those tracks I could easily have on repeat all day, the album as a whole is just a banging melodic Oi!-punk record. I just hope this isn’t the band’s ‘last round’!, because I definitely like to hear far more from Arch Rivals in the future!