ALBUM OF THE WEEK: BIG UPS - BEFORE A MILLION UNIVERSES

ARTIST: BIG UPS

ALBUM: BEFORE A MILLION UNIVERSES

LABEL: TOUGH LOVE / BRACE YOURSELF RECORDS

A little over two years ago we reviewed the debut album from New York City punk 4-piece Big Ups, and later that year placed 'Eighteen Hours Of Static' at number 1 in our top 10 albums of 2014. They return this year with their new record - 'Before A Million Universes' - through Tough Love and Brace Yourself Records in the UK, and Exploding In Sound out in the States.

The new album has 13 tracks and comes in at 42 minutes, with songs ranging from between 2 and 5 minutes in length. The band are made up of Joe Galarrage (vocals), Amar Lal (guitar), Carlos Salguero Jr. (bass), and Brendan Finn (drums), who all met whilst studying at NYC University.

The city of New York has served as a rich feeding ground for the band in putting together this album. Lyrical content ranges from political corruption and social injustice, to the impact of wealth and the process of degeneration. Heavy subject matters are met head on with the bands threatening music, with a combination of straight forward hardcore punk mixed up with bits of grunge and psyche rock.

Before A Million Universes is an uncompromising and at times difficult record to get your ears around, but it's a vital listen and statement of intent from a band that keep kicking down doors, pushing boundaries, and daring to confront today's issues and problems through their music.