Ska punk is everywhere right now. With good reason too. The bands putting out music these days are best in class. People within the ska punk community can definitely see the tides changing a bit again in terms of the genre’s exposure to more mainstream audiences.
That just makes things more exciting if you ask me. Ska punk‘s dirty little secret is that while some bands made it big and became MTV stars in the ’90s, the heart and soul of ska punk has always lied with the DIY community that kept it going after major labels stopped caring. So many bands are working their butts off during COVID-19 times, that the scene is getting more family-like now than ever better.
Introducing Sgt. Scag Vs. Hans Gruber and the Die Hards
Today, two such members of the ska punk family, Sgt. Scag and Hans Gruber and the Die Hards, team up for the new Sgt. Scag Vs. Hans Gruber and the Die Hards 7 inch.
The split 7 inch is three songs long and packs a lot of punch in just under eight minutes. For the vinyl collectors reading this post, Sgt. Scag and Hans Gruber are offering special bundle deals on their respective bandcamp pages including “Orange Juice” and “Toothpaste” 7 inch color variants. And, in a burst of marketing genius, this 7 inch just happens to be releasing on a bandcamp Friday.
If vinyl isn’t your thing, then you can also get these tracks on all popular streaming services now.
Sgt. Scag’s Contribution
Originally formed in the ’90s, now that Sgt. Scag is back from an almost 20 year hiatus, they’re sounding even better than ever! Their offering to the 7 inch is a song called “Cultination.” The song starts off with a rock with horns melody over a funky bass groove. As it leans into the chorus, it gets more urgent with a faster-paced ska punk sound and “whoah-oh” gang vocals. It’s groovy, funky, and catchy. Lyrically, it touches on fanaticism, individuality, and cults. Musically, “Cultination” put me in the mind of bands like Gangster Fun and Fishbone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch/maxresdefault.jpg" />Hans Gruber and the Die Hards’s Contributions
Whereas Sgt. Scag gave us an almost four minute ska punk / funk hybrid treat, Hans Gruber hits us in the face with two tracks that tow the link between hardcore, ska punk, and crack rocksteady. The first song on the Gruber side of the 7 inch is called “You’re Being Watched,” and it imagines a world where bugs are being used as surveillance. If you dig bands like Leftover Crack, then “You’re Being Watched” is right up your alley.
The band still hits listeners with growly vocals on “Medical Advice,” but they also use the song to show off a bit as well. When the horn arrangements kick in, there are times where this song resembles something Mephiskapheles might release, which is high praise. Whether you like the more aggressive vocals stylings of a hardcore or crack rocksteady ska punk band, or more of the musicality of Meph, you’ll get a kick out the song.
Final Thoughts
Sgt. Scag Vs. Hans Gruber and the Die Hards is eight minutes of ska punk candy. Each band may offer up different flavors of candy, but they’re both tasty. It’s well worth the listen to track this 7 inch down and give is a spin (or a stream).