It’s been a long time since I’ve found a new British Post-hardcore act that as made me sit up straight and think ‘Fuck, this is good stuff’. A few years back we had a thriving UK post-hardcore scene, with Hundred Reasons, Hell is for Heroes and Reuben all at the top of their game, and Million Dead were still around to knock my socks off on a regular basis. Recently though, this particular sub-genre seems to have been all but forgotten about, as we’ve been inundated with metalcore, ska and emo, and little else. Thank fuck for Sancho Panzer then. I genuinely have not listened to a record like this and loved almost every single second of what’s on offer in a very, very long time.
With an intro track in the form of ’18-30 overture’ that lends more than just a modest nod to At the Drive-In and Million Dead, there’s no denying these four lads from Exeter don’t waste anytime fannying about with build-ups, break-downs or unnecessary interludes. This is a truly brilliant track to open up any record with, and serves as the best possible example of what Sancho Panzer can do.
‘High Speed Operation’ delivers more of the same mix of melodic hooks and guitar-driven accompaniment. At times there’s a hint of Thursday present, although not too much to confuse the listen as to what country this band are from – this is a British sounding four-piece through and through. Elsewhere, there’s undeniable talent present in ‘Mandarin’ and ‘No Appeal’, as the band manage to create some mellower moments, which only serve to add to the drama when combined with their capability to write massive sounding choruses.
There are few bands in circulation at the moment that I would honestly force people to listen to, and Sancho Panzer are one of them. Along with Kids in Glass Houses and Enter Shikari, this band are set to make a big mark on the face of UK music in 2007, and it’s only a matter of time before they do.
Andy R