Artwork Credit: Sebas Thériault of Sterio Design
Written by: Megan Langley
I first discovered Guardrail back in early 2017, when they had released a few singles in preparation for their EP “Par At Best,” which dropped at the beginning of that summer. Fast forward a few years, and the Chicago-based quartet has signed a record deal with Open Your Ears Records, and are releasing another new EP, titled “Yikes.”
The opening track, “Really?” instantly brings catchy riffs and melodies, and more energetic instrumentals come in to finish that intro and drive the fast-paced rhythm of the rest of the song. The chorus contains some darker composition, shown through both the instrumentals and shouted vocals, and overall, this song is one that really showcases the punk influences in the band’s sound.
“Anyway” is up next, and this one mixes in some pop-punk influences with its catchy chorus and equally catchy guitar solo in the bridge, and the additional vocal and guitar harmonies make those performances stand out more. “Shipwrecked” picks the pace back up in regards to the tempo and energy, and the darker instrumentation and shouted vocals really grabbed my attention.
The track that opens up the second half of this EP, “Belly-Up”, contains a lot of those same elements, and both of those are also very good examples of the punk-leaning influences in the band’s sound. Second-to-last is the lead single “‘Til We’re Dead,” and while the hook and chorus are a little bit repetitive, they’re still undeniably catchy, and have been stuck in my head since the first time I heard the track.
The shouted vocals really grab my attention again, accompanied by catchy instrumentation, and the drums really stand out towards the end as they drive the last section of the song. The EP concludes with its title track, “Yikes,” which is a bit slower in comparison to the previous tracks, and starts with softer, cleaner guitars before the harder-hitting instrumentation quickly kicks in.
The verses are still a bit softer vocally and instrumentally, but the vocals gradually get louder from the chorus onwards, and the bridge, later on, contains some catchy guitar harmonies. With energetic instrumentals, passionate vocals, and the combination of influences within the punk genre, “Yikes” is a memorable EP from Guardrail.
"Yikes" is available to stream wherever you listen to music, and you can support the band by picking up a mask, shirt, or another piece of merch on their Bandcamp. You can keep up with the band by following them on Twitter @GuardrailSucks and let us know what you think of the release by tweeting us @lgndsoftmrw!