EP Review: Hike the Peak - The
Hike the Peak is Sheffield based worldwide collaborative project featuring members from a whole host of other bands including The Affect Heuristic (Scotland/Belgium), Rebuke (Sweden), Goodbye Blue Monday (Scotland), Coral Springs (Netherlands), No Contest (England), Laughing the the Face Of (England), Absolute (Italy), From the Tracks (Sweden), For I am & St. Plaster (Belgium), Hoof (England), Thousand Oaks (Italy), One Hidden Frame (Finland), PMX (Scotland), Shames (Japan). The outfit formed during lockdown and strive to produce catchy, singalong tunes that draw influence from their cross border friendships.
"The" is their fourth EP (or double A-side) offering and follows July's "Only".
Hike the Peak blast with their brand of high paced, high energy anthemic stake punk. There's thrashing drums, grand riffs, perfect vocal harmonies and a real sense of comradery and a group of mates having a bloody good time! Both tracks on "The" have super catchy hooks that are sure to intrigue and get stuck in your head.
Their heavy pop punk influences drew similarities with New Found Glory (particularly in the vocals) and early "Get Stoked On It" era The Wonder Years. Fairly short in stature "The" still manages to pack a punch with maximum impact!
'Ghosts' features frantic, melodic, raw vocals backed with pounding chaotic drums and a piercing riff. There's a low key moment with haunting sparkling guitars before unclean vocals snarl in giving it a bit of a metalcore vibe.
'Empty Road' blasts with an addictive hook and infectious chorus. There's big riffs, more thundering drums and a short unclean skit that has a more harrowing, demonic feel than vocals in 'Ghost''. 'Empty Road' is an absolute banger that's going to send the circle pit wild!
When we were sent "The" to review Lee wrote us a detailed explanation about each track so rather than me paraphrasing and adding my own spin I'll let him tell you about the tracks origins and meaning:
Ghosts - John ‘Chic’ Harcus, PMX, Scotland
Legend is used so much these days that when true legends actually show themselves their quality cannot be questioned whatsoever. Chic has been a major player in the skate punk scene for a long time and PMX have been crafting fine pieces of punk rock since as far back as I can remember. I've been very lucky to have played a few shows with PMX and after their blistering set at Gorilla at Manchester Punk Festival in 2022 I nailed Chic down for a Hike The Peak collaboration. And here we are! Heartfelt lyrics with harmonies in abundance.
Chic also was the catalyst for getting this project off the ground because it was his midi drum packs at diypunkrock.com that meant that I could actually get proper skate punk drum patterns effortlessly that meant that I could start crafting Hike The Peak songs the way I wanted…..so actually he sings and plays drums on this track!
Ghosts is a bonafide banger.
Empty Road - Ace - Shames, Japan
The first time I heard Shames I knew I had to get the Japanese skatepunkers involved in Hike The Peak. Put on my radar from Fair Do’s last tour over in Japan. I've been a fan ever since. When they received a random email from me to get involved in the project they jumped at the chance; and have delivered their signature vocal delivery with added spice!
These new 5 eps will collectively come together as an album entitled ‘ONLY THE TRUE FLY FREE’
The songs released in pairs every 7/8 weeks that will culminate in a powerful anthemic collection of songs that I think rival anything in the scene currently. John and Ace join Alex Gavazzi (Thousand Oaks, Italy) and Pekka Multaharju (One Hidden Frame, Finland) in the artists so far in this new clutch of songs….
Danny Cummings, front man for Lancashire legendary skatepunks Fair Dos, has taken over not just mixing but producer duties on all the tracks. And..finally...Hike The Peak have roped in legendary mixer, producer, mastering legend Jesse Cannon (NOFX, The Menzingers, Limp Bizkit, The Cure, Dillinger Escape Plan, Man Overboard) of Found Soundation in New York, USA to master all the new tracks.
My final thoughts: "The" is a highly addictive, totally frantic two track EP that's catchy, anthemic and sure to leave you wanting to hear more. I have total admiration for the band and the fact they have managed to produce something so flawlessly executed when they're scattered all around the globe!
