Richmond Virginia multi-punk unit steelboy don’t need to be invited to have a damn good time, as evidenced by their debut full-length album Thanks For The Invite, released via Punkerton Records. Racing along from the starting bars, Thanks For The Invite is a mish-mash of pop-punk, ska-punk, and alt-punk, the culmination of over a year and half’s tireless work by steelboy to refine an album that appeals to all punk rock lovers or, quite frankly, anyone who likes having fast-paced fun.
steelboy’s sound weaves between the genres without going overboard, some tracks feeling polished in a raw sense, like Ramones-inspired ‘Tres Machos’ with its fiery riffs, and some still finding their solid ground but having chaotic fun in the process, like opening track ‘Cliffhanger’ and its organised cacophony, while pit-starter ‘Hell No’ transforms into a ska-punk rhythm that keeps you second guessing what to expect on this album. At its heart, Thanks For the Invite has the spark and force of punk-rock, but steelboy add new vigor and merriment to the sound and yank it up onto a higher level.
While the punk genre mixes up with each track, steelboy are consistent in lead singer Siyani Hadiya Roberts delivering clean vocals that switch from soaring to staccato and punchy, heard best in power anthem ‘Chernobyl’, her vocals contrasting with the blistering instruments that carry the punk rage in each track where Roberts brings an emotional range to her voice, fluctuating between biting derision to wearied desperation.
It’s evident that steelboy made sure they were having fun with the process and that they’ll be able to translate that quickfire energy to live shows. That’s an invite we’ll be rsvping YES to.
Find steelboy at punkerton records | bandcamp | instagram | facebook | youtube