Use It Up by This Means War!: A Punk Rock Punch to the Gut
If you’re into raw, unfiltered punk rock that doesn’t bother with pleasantries, Use It Up by This Means War! might just be your next obsession. Released in 2018 on Pirates Press Records (a label known for keeping the spirit of rebellion alive), this US-born album is a no-frills gut-punch of angst and energy. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel—it’s kicking it down the road instead.
Let’s talk about the title track, “Use It Up.” Holy moly, does this one hit hard. Right outta the gate, the opening riff grabs you like an over-caffeinated bouncer at a dive bar. The vocals are snarly yet melodic enough to stick in your brain long after the song ends. Lyrically? Pure defiance. It's kinda like someone yelling, "Take what you need, but don’t expect me to clean up after ya!" And honestly, who can’t relate to that these days? Whether you’re smashing dishes in the kitchen or stuck in traffic screaming silently, this track gives voice to all those pent-up frustrations we try (and fail) to ignore.
Then there’s another standout—I won’t name it because I want you to discover it yourself—but trust me, it’s got this relentless drumbeat that feels like your heart racing when you're late for something important. Paired with razor-sharp guitar work, it’s chaotic in the best possible way. You know how sometimes music makes you feel invincible, like you could flip a car if you really wanted to? Yeah, that’s this song. It’s short, punchy, and leaves you wanting more—like a great taco truck experience.
What sticks with me most about Use It Up isn’t just its ability to thrash around in classic punk fashion; it’s the little details. Like how every song bleeds urgency, as if they recorded the whole thing before their gear got repo’d. There’s nothing polished here—just pure grit and honesty, which is refreshing in a world full of overproduced nonsense.
So yeah, give Use It Up a spin if you miss the days when punk was less about Instagram aesthetics and more about spitting in the face of conformity. Honestly, listening to this album feels like finding $20 in an old jacket pocket—a small reminder that good things still exist, even when everything else feels kinda trashy.
Oh, and P.S., if pirates ever invade your town, play this loud. They’ll probably dig it too.
