Punk rock has never really been my thing, but I am always open to new music so thought I would give this offering from Toronto based punk rock band The Bare Minimum a go and I am soooo glad I did!

The band’s third full length album, due to be released on 4^th November 2022, Is A Gateway Drug is a wonderful mixture of punk rock and metal that sounds absolutely awesome! Paying homage to 90’s skate punk, it switches easily and effortlessly between melodic, contemporary, and old school punk but also explores hardcore punk and rock ‘n’ roll.

Rising from the underground punk scene in Toronto, the band have previously released two full length albums, 2 EP’s and countless singles and are, as stated on the band’s own website, “a decent punk rock band,” although I would go as far to say they are a bloody good punk rock band!

The album features six new songs and six old songs, as well as an additional bonus, so thirteen punk tracks in all really gives you value for money. With catchy themes, melodies and harmonies mixed with powerful riffs, progressions, and frenzied drumming this is an energetic album that will have you pogoing around your living room.

Although a fun album, the bass and drum acrobatics adding to this, there is also aggression, rawness, and heaviness in abundance. The semi-distorted vocals give the album a dimension that could otherwise have been missed, and strong backing vocals complement the punk sound.

I liked this album very much and had it on repeat numerous times. Cam Gray (vocals, guitar), Donnie Hopper (bass), Mick Hutchinson (lead guitar) and Chris Nikolaidis (drums) should all be enormously proud of what they have achieved with this album.

Keep up the excellent work guys!

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum