How should I start this review?
PIPES & PINTS from Prague have been touring all over Europe for six years, and I saw this band for the first time a few years ago. Since then, I've been a fan. I've recommended the band to countless people, and our reporter Lizal is also thrilled, as can be seen from her report on the Resist to Exist festival (which can be read at the link: http://www.ramtatta.de/konzertberichte,id-137.html).
After their 2009 album “Until we die,” the band has gradually earned the attention they deserve through relentless touring across Europe. This was reflected not only in the number of gig attendees but also in the interest from labels. While their debut album was released on the Düsseldorf label Wolverine Records, they are now associated with the larger label People Like You Records. Quality prevails!
“Found and Lost” builds on the debut album and offers plenty of two-part, gritty vocals, brain-slicing melodies, and perfectly placed choruses. However, what is somewhat lacking compared to the debut album is the genuine grittiness. It seems to have been smoothed out. Even though singer Syco Mike shows with his voice that this is not a girls' singing lesson, it’s just not the same as on the debut. Probably, in favor of gaining more recognition, the iron has been applied to smooth things out.
The bagpipe, played by Vojta as the head and founder of the band, could be used a bit more intensively, in my opinion. In many songs, the instrument supports the tracks but does not carry them as it did in many songs from the past.
PIPES & PINTS have released an album with “Found and Lost” that tries to be both grittier and more melodic folk punk on one hand, while also looking into the realm of melody punk on the other. This balancing act will certainly be more noticeable to fans of the band than to someone who is getting to know the band for the first time with this album.
However, I don't want to say that it's a bad album. It is certainly not that, although it is definitely (especially lyrically) not a complete reinvention of the wheel, but it is still able to cement the band's status.
Punkier than The Real McKenzies, grittier than Dropkick Murphys, and crazier than both bands combined, that’s PIPES & PINTS.
And there are still the live concerts, which are not only incredibly intense but also provide a personal, memorable, and enthusiastic experience, especially in clubs.
PIPES & PINTS are a band that showcases their qualities primarily live!
Current tour dates can be found on the band's homepage, which is: http://www.pipesandpints.com/
