Sickpay – Pureocracy (2022)
There are times when we all feel the pressure of existential oppression and these times seem to have become more common in the past few years. If you are looking for a taste of freedom, Sickpay’s EP Pureocracy has the energy and melodic flows you need to get the release you want. Packed with aggressive punk rock vocals that are bolstered by electric rhythms, the tracks pack a serious punch that will have you yelling out with them.
Embracing chaos through a wash of unstoppable energy, the EP breaks the shackles we all have, with the big choruses and ecstatic anthemic vibes. The project, spearheaded by Mike Birnbaum, offers an in-your-face experimentation of heavy tones and groovy foundations. With a number of collaborators on this EP, he is sure to blast you out into the stratosphere, where you can ride the cathartic freedom on offer.
The EP opens with ‘Quiet as a Joke’ that hits you in the chest with energetic tones, before the melody hits a more melodic flow. The guitars have you rocking out to their sound, before the vocals slide in with a rather groovy punk-rock vibe. When the chorus hits, you are swept into the first of the big choruses of the EP. There is a soaring feeling to the movement that has you flying away from the stresses of life. The melody and vocals bring a rather upbeat vibe to the single that is a little at odds with the lyrics at times. Birnbaum packs a lot of emotion into his performance, particularly in the later parts of the track, where he screams out his frustration. After the screaming vocals, everything drops for a softer movement, before picking up the energy of the track again.
‘Devoid’ is addictive from the first guitar note that plucks against your ears, before picking you up and throwing you into the clash of the second guitar line. Jordan Welner is featured on the vocals of this track, bringing a new touch to the sound of the EP. His voice has a wonderful smoothness to it that rides the movements of the guitars. While smooth, there is a feeling of distance between you and his performance, like he is calling out to you over a void. The lyrics touch on dark emotions, but allow you to break the hold they have on you through the aggressive rise of the rock tones. Welner’s vocals use this rise to catch infectious air currents, while taking you along for the ride.
There is an electronic edge to the vocals of ‘How Many Times’ that flies out against the lively jangle of the melody. From the first moment, this track has you rocking out and moving like crazy to the infectious tones of the melody. Welner backs Birnbaum on vocals as they inject their energy into your veins, shaking you up from the inside out. There is no way that you can listen to this song and not feel the urge to bounce off the walls while shouting out with the vocals. This is the ultimate anthem of freedom that has you breaking free of any constraints. Later in the track, there is a strange off-kilter movement to the melody that makes you feel like you are coming down from a rushing high and unable to find your feet.
‘Generosity’ rolls a deep drumline into your muscles that get your feet tapping before the guitar vibrates electric energy into your veins. There is a great flow to the guitars and drums in this track that hooks into your chest, pumping electricity into your soul. The electronic tinge to the vocals is a great contrast to the more organic rock tones of the melody. The cries of the vocals make you want to turn the volume up while going crazy to the music. If the other tracks introduced the energy of the EP, this is the track that is turning it up to eleven. Woven into the energy of the track is a consideration of generosity, and the selfishness of people in the modern world. As you sing along to the vocals, you are going to feel a cathartic release of all your frustrations.
The EP comes to a close with ‘Sick Pay’ which sees Welner return to backing vocals alongside Erin Huges. The pace of the opening shakes you up before you are thrown into a slightly retro tone that brings the best elements of old-school punk-rock. The retro tones give way to a modern tone that is packed with a real stadium vibe through the vocals. The depths of the vocal performance on the chorus is perfection, as it ensures you don’t feel alone while giving you voices to join. Through the verses, the vocal performance is jam-packed with energy that blisters a path through your senses and straight into your heart.
From start to finish, Sickpay has you releasing your frustrations with a shout, breaking the chains holding you down and rocking out to the addictive energy of Pureocracy. Each track is packed with energy that shakes off the shackles holding you down, while lifting you up. It is impossible to stay still or not shout out with the vocals as you give in to the urge to turn the volume up.
