Album Reviews

I can’t speak to the international cross-border trade tariffs involved in this particular US-Canada deal, but Split Decision pairs California’s Fire Sale with Vancouver’s The Corps for a razor-sharp four-track release. Clocking in at just over ten minutes, it’s nothing but short, sweet, and pure melodic punk rock.

Fire Sale leads off, powered by an impressive pedigree of former and current members from Face to Face, No Use For A Name, The Ataris, Down By Law, and The Iron Roses. They tackle mental health struggles on the hook-heavy "Kill The Noise" before shifting gears to political frustration on "Dies Irae," a track heavily reminiscent of prime Pennywise.

The Corps takes over for the split’s second half, opening with "Imposter Syndrome." The track explores the uneasy divide between sharing stages with your heroes and feeling like you actually belong there, though anyone familiar with their catalog knows the self-doubt is entirely unearned. They close with "Another World," settling into a mid-tempo groove for a bittersweet love song about unrequited longing.

It’s a solid ending to a split that finds two top-tier bands bonding over their shared love for fast, melodic punk.

Split Decision track listing:

1.     Fire Sale — “Kill the Noise”
2.     Fire Sale — “Dies Irae”
3.     The Corps — “Imposter Syndrome”
4.     The Corps — “Another World”