EP REVIEW: State Actors – Young Pretorians

Hailing from the south coast, punk outfit YOUNG PRETORIANS marry themes of modern living with the sounds of bands like THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM or THE MENZINGERS. Their debut EP State Actors is out July 23rd and with it they’re intent on setting out their stall in the scene. 

Opener Desperation Party Scene introduces the band with the sound of modern punk in the vein of AGAINST ME!. It’s a rollicking, fast-paced number packed with attitude with a soaring chorus. Follow-up No One’s The Saint That They Want To Be leans more into the Americana side of their sound, with an almost country twang to the guitars. Average Conversations, Between Average People has shades of GREEN DAY in the opening motif and is perhaps the closest thing on here to a ballad, but still keeps its edge.

You Look The Same ups the ante once more with a crisp guitar lick and a bluesy edge to the vocal melodies in its verses. Closer The Shakes explores what it’s like to realise your childhood dreams aren’t going to come true while living a far more mundane life; it’s the sound of an existential crisis drenched in sun-kissed melodies. 

Throughout the five tracks on the EP, the band showcase a knack for telling stories about real people living real lives. There’s an almost Americana, folky feel in part alongside their melodic punk. A strong collection of songs that doesn’t outstay its welcome, it does exactly what a debut needs to do; introduces the band, clearly shows what they could do as well as why we should care and – hopefully – leaves you wanting more from them. 

At just 18 minutes long with five songs, it’s a short and snappy release that’s still got hooks for days and feels deeply relatable with its tales of real people going about their lives, especially the existential crisis-inducing The Shakes. YOUNG PRETORIANS aren’t a household name – yet – but with their debut EP State Actors they’re sure to make waves in the scene and it’s a promising sign of things to come. 

Rating: 8/10

State Actors is set for release on July 23rd via self-release.

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