Play fast, skate faster! That is the battle cry of Virginia skate punks GTI. The trio consists of Cable on guitar/vocals, Drew on Bass, and Mikey on drums. On January 5th, they released their EP entitled Ride the Fucking Line.
The EP contains 6 dense, fast, tight tunes dripping with 90’s punk influence à la early Fat Wreck Chords and Epitaph bands, while musically blending a more hardcore vocal style reminiscent of Sick of it All or Hatebreed. The songs come in at a blistering run time of ten minutes, 26 seconds. If they skate faster than they play, as their mantra suggests, it must truly be a spectacle to behold.
From the first power chords of the opening track “18”, you’ll be taken back to the 90’s punk rock heyday and when the barrage of drums kick in seconds later you’ll want to find the closest half pipe, drop in, and turn it up. The song rips through its 2 minute, 6 seconds play time checking all of the classic skate punk hallmarks, including a quick ska breakdown after the second verse, before exploding into the final chorus.
Next up is “Grim Rippers.” It first fills your ear holes with driving distorted bass line that quickly builds to an almost impossibly fast Pennywise-esque anthem recounting days of skating, drinking shitty beer, and smoking cheap cigars. Despite the song’s 1 minute 6 second run time, there is a surprising show of dynamics packed into this song. It moves back and forth from insane speed, to funk ride cymbal work, to bass and vocal breakdown, and back again.
Next up is the longest track on the album. “Hot Dog” comes in at an almost epic, for GTI, 2 minutes, 52 seconds. The song starts with what I’m calling a punky funky bass riff that slowly builds to a fast paced guitar and bass riff swap, not unlike what you’d hear on a late 90’s early 2000’s NOFX record. Then leveling up to the punk assault that I’ve come to know as GTI’s signature sound. After two choruses, the tension is broken by funky little ska breakdown, and then blasts directly back into a relentless torrent of power chords and downbeats for the duration of the track.
Following the longest song on the album is the shortest. “Mikey’s Song” clocking exactly 30 seconds. Front front to back this song is a wall of vocals, bass, drums, and guitar. Repeating the titular phrase again and again, and punctuated at the end by a dick joke, because what skate punk release would be complete without at least one!
Closing out this EP is their mantra song “Play Fast Skate Faster”. Starting with a punk take on a bluesy riff and then right to the point as the lyrics begin with the titular first line. Chronicling the trials and tribulations and triumphs of skate life. This 2:10 ripper pulls out all the stops; bluesy riffs, punk rock down strokes, bass breakdowns, false stops, and back to the hook!
All told this is a great listen if you’re a fan of the mid 90’s skate punk genre. It checks all the boxes, scratches that itch, and leaves you wanting more.
Chuck Veri is a writer for PA and Find Out and has been playing in PGH bands since before Jesus was born. Currently fronting ska legends, Inco Fido, his music will wiggle into your earholes without prejudice. Most of his friends will tell you that he’s one of the nicest people to ever get them kicked out of a strip club.