EP Review: S.A.D – Gotta Keep Moving

S.A.D are a three piece ska punk band from the UK who have been building a dedicated following through their energetic and infectious live performances. S.A.D deliver a soundtrack that infuses their passion for all things punk and ska with a liberal sprinkling of full tilt Oi and street punk, those that haven’t managed to catch them live can now experience their sound as S.A.D have now released their debut EP, “Gotta Keep Moving“. S.A.D also recruited Freddie Huddleston‘s trumpet skills to add to the ska element of their sound, with the whole ensemble faithfully captured by John Hannon at No Recording Studios.

The opening track “Ain’t That Bothered” establishes S.A.D‘s ska credentials, there’s a London twang to the vocals that hints at their oi! links, something that comes to fore with the furious “Black Sheep“, a track that marks a stark contrast in style to the EP’s first track. The “Gotta Keep Moving” EP continues to alternate between styles, the EP’s title track and “Three Monkeys” keeping the two tone and ska fuelled side of the EP running and “Suicidal Blues“, “The Hit” and “Glass Half Full” keeping the punk and oi! side of things flowing.

S.A.D have a released a somewhat schizophrenic debut, the mix of ska and punk is nothing new but it’s not often I find the competing influences delivered separately rather than being melded together, your opinion of the “Gotta Keep Moving” EP will be influenced by your opinion of ska and brutal oi, if both styles are nestling in your collection then you really should give this release a spin. My preference was for the ska fuelled tracks from the EP, but this is a promising debut from a band who take their cues from punk’s London roots and the ska and reggae that co-existed with the early punk scene.

‘Gotta Keep Moving‘ can be streamed and purchased via Bandcamp here

S.A.D can be found on Facebook and Twitter