Album: Cynical Cycles
Release Date: August 16, 2019
Genre: Punk
Relentlessly refusing to slow down, Rat Parade have released their third EP. Cynical Cycles follows their 2018 sophomore EP, Our Plague, and is perhaps their strongest to date. The five-track EP acts as a slight departure from their grimy punk roots, and while that certainly remains as a present element, Cynical Cycles leans on rock, pop-punk, and metal to diversify their sound and branch out as Rat Parade moves forward.
Opening with the sludgy “Wasted Sun”, Rat Parade kicks off their latest EP with a strong track that grows and builds to incorporate a catchy, stomping chorus and a ripping lead guitar solo. While still grimy as all hell, the melodicism in both the vocals and the instruments is already a refreshing twist for the band. The track is followed by the raucous classic punk-inspired banger, “Rusty Bikes”. For all its energy and its vibe alone, “Rusty Bikes” may be my favourite track on the record.
Cynical Cycles continues with perhaps their catchiest number, “333am”. Resting somewhere between the catchy and crunchy power chords of The Ramones and the vocal style of Green Day, the track is bound to be a hit among their live set. The following song, however, takes a rougher approach reminiscent of NOFX and Social Distortion, making “Dive Bar” one of the more tried and true punk tracks – along with “Rusty Bikes” – on the EP. The record comes to a close with what is perhaps Rat Parade’s most ambitious track to date, “Turn Me Around”, and it certainly pays off, leaving me excited for what is to come next from the band.
All in all, Cynical Cycles is a record which, on one hand, cements Rat Parade as one of southern Ontario’s more promising punk bands, while simultaneously opening a new chapter of possibilities for the band. While still very much a punk rock outfit, Cynical Cycles is an album that, more so than their previous releases, has taken influence from a number of genres and styles and for that, is perhaps the most Rat Parade sounding EP they’ve released!