Metagirl & the Earth Passengers turn resilience into an explosive, catchy and attitude-driven ska-punk anthem with Fire It Up. The song opens with a dry, percussive offbeat guitar riff delivering the classic ska “chank”, while a fast, melodic bassline keeps the momentum moving.
The firm, energetic drums lean closer to punk rock than reggae, maintaining their intensity from start to finish. Bright, cutting brass is woven into the arrangement, used as a series of sharp accents rather than as the main melodic focus. At times, the result recalls The Interrupters: tight production, a fast-paced rhythm and a chorus built to be shouted by an entire venue.
However, “Fire It Up” does not remain entirely within the confines of ska. In several passages, the guitars become rawer, pushing the track towards a rougher strain of garage rock. Erica Rowell reinforces that shift with a gritty, aggressive and highly rhythmic vocal performance that remains forceful without losing clarity.
The connection with Buzzcocks lies less in the rhythm than in the way the band turns punk urgency into immediate melodies and catchy choruses. As on “What Do I Get?”, taut guitars and the repetition of a short phrase allow the chorus to grow more powerful with each return. Yet while Buzzcocks drove their songs forward with a straight, nervous pulse, Metagirl & the Earth Passengers make theirs bounce on the offbeat.
That combination fits the song’s message. “Fire It Up” acknowledges exhaustion, frustration and stagnation, then transforms them into a collective call to get moving again. Rather than promising that everything will improve, it offers a beat powerful enough to get you back on your feet. In the hands of the Brooklyn collective, music becomes a source of momentum, refuge and connection.
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