Pennsylvania’s Don’t Sleep have channelled 90s punk influences on their debut album Turn The Tide
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06.08.2020

Pennsylvania’s Don’t Sleep have channelled 90s punk influences on their debut album Turn The Tide

Words by Alex Callan

Reminiscent of Bad Brains, Propagandhi and Descendents.

East Coast outfit Don’t Sleep are gearing up to release their debut full length, Turn The Tide.

First off, I found the album channelling the 90s punk vibes of Bad Brains, Propagandhi and Descendents. To be honest now thinking about it, and I’m not sure if the band would agree, but elements of the riffs and song structure actually remind me of ‘Black Sails in the Sunset’ era AFI, in particular the song ‘No Other Way.’

‘Abandoned Us’ is the kind of blistering punk song you’d expect to find on the upcoming re-release of Tony Hawk Pro Skater, in fact it seems wrong that it’s not.

‘We Remain” adds a breakdown in the bridge that really caught my attention with it’s unexpected change up while the rhythm and percussive elements of ‘True North’ gives off a very Fugazi ‘Waiting Room’ vibe, and that’s the vibe I’m into.

I found Don’t Sleep lean a bit more into the ‘So-Cal’ side of hardcore as well as East Coast which I found a really great change up throughout the album.

‘The Wreckage’ is an incredible song to have added onto this album. Being the only song to incorporate a reggae, ska styled approach which immediately felt like a homage to The Clash and Bad Brains.

Overall, ‘Turn The Tide’ is the first ever release I’ve listened to by ‘Don’t Sleep’ but the Pennsylvanian based group can definitely count me in as a fan from now on.

Turn The Tide is out on September 4 via Mission Two Entertainment.