By Charlie Sweeny

Ferocious and fantastic, local up-and-coming band Drastic//Automatic continue their trend of incredible singles with their newest track, Ravenscourt Park, 2004.

Known for their loud and aggressive takes on punk music, Drastic//Automatic’s newest single combines all that is good with their last few releases, whilst demonstrating the sheer talent in the band. Beginning with a punching, precise drum track from Benji Wilson, before an ominous bass line kicks in courtesy of Sissy Green, Ravenscourt Park, 2004 starts as it means to go on. Lead singer Sean Hession continually chants “Ravenscourt Park, 2004”, with his voice sounding like it's at the very peak of anger. Yet underneath the loud, bombastic, and anthemic sound that Drastic//Automatic have become known for, lies an incredibly intricate guitar with an almost anarchic sound, distorting and squirming its way through the violent rhythms that permeate the track. 

The lyrical content of the track itself continues this anarchic, angry sentiment set out by the music. Questioning the concept of nostalgia, Sean seems to be almost sneering at its existence, framing the desire to live in the past as something utterly preposterous. This is not just about questioning nostalgia, no; this is a rant. A seething diktat to stop wistfully walking into the past and instead, acknowledge the present. As the song comes into its final thirty seconds, an ominous, seemingly perpetual anthem rings out, with only a piercing guitar riff and Sean’s continued whispering of “lips like sugar, sugar kisses” to stop the monotonal sound. Then, a cacophony of noise rings out, ending the song as Drastic//Automatic do best, in an almost trancelike state of punk-filled passion.

It feels like after every Drastic//Automatic song, you are left feeling like that is their best one yet, but I genuinely do think that Ravenscourt Park, 2004 represents a real peak for the band, and I can’t wait to hear where they go from here.