Review: “No Country For the Young” by Good Cop

“And Anne Marie Deacon, what about her rights? I mean, she’s raped and left in a hole to die. Who speaks for her?” ~ Harry Callahan

Now a five piece comprising vocalist Vic Sell, bassist Tom Stokes, drummer Gabe Wilson alongside guitarist duo Jared Guy and El Foster, Good Cop announcing themselves to an unsuspecting World with debut EP “Having Fun At Gunpoint” in the summer of 2022. What followed was absolute bedlam as the band took their brand of Chaotic Hardcore – think elements of Hardcore, Grindcore, Punk, Emo and Power Violence with unfiltered leftist aggression – and you get the picture – to the stage. Supporting everyone from Clobber to Sore Teeth, they wrecked venues and gear and their continued mission is to raise hell.

Sophomore record “No Country For The Young” lyrically takes on hard hitting subject matter like the alienation of workers under capitalism, transphobia, breed specific legislation, and the hopeless situation facing the youth of the country. It does so with a cynically humorous or scornfully mocking approach which is fearfully addictive when coupled with the the bands almost unhinged rage. Produced by Tom Hill (Other Half, Cassels, Death Goals) at Bookhouse Studios in London, the EP was recorded live on the floor, a necessity when looking to capture the bands chaotic live energy. Imagine “Calculating Infinity” era The Dillinger Escape Plan, “Weeping Choir” era Full Of Hell and self titled era Skid Raid meeting each other down a dark alley to exchange notes on how to inflict the most damage with a baseball bat and the idea of what Good Cop are all about. They’re the kind of band who throw their bullets in the fire and then stand there, risking a fatal wounding to get their point across. Powerful and raw, this warts and all recording starts with the lethal “I Identify As a Death Threat” as Wilson blasts his way out from behind the drum stool. A cut which gets you in a headlock and runs you head first into traffic, this one is soaked in Blackened Death Metal influence with three members of the band screaming the song title in a full on sonic assault on the senses.

There is a little more verve and swagger to the thunderous “Nice Shot, Nancy Boy!“, the gang chanted moments a nice change up as Vic Sell’s caustic uncleans threaten to tear a hole in the space time continuum. Punchy and violent the tempo changes are well worked to maximise on the bands aggressive tendencies before “Hunting Party” brings a classic 90’s Metallic Hardcore riff and a surprising rap screamed flow. Designed to put bounce into the mosh pit this one is a game changer as it proves the band can dial down their anarchist approach for something of a little more control if they want to get groovy. The flipside of that coin is “241 @ Dignitas“, a short sharp electric shock of a track that blows its predecessor out of the water as a blast of pure violence that says “suicide pact, you first“. It’s not going to get a mosh pit because at 37 seconds they’re going to have to play it three times for people to take their places but it does serve as a introduction to the off kilter riff laced and oddly titled “Ol’ Yeller Got the Drop On Me“. A vicious little ditty that wears its influences on its sleeve, it captures the bands live energy perfectly and like Vast Slug before them, they too will be able to play 30 songs in a 30 minute set. While the last cut threatened to bring the bloodstained curtain down on this collection in almost feral fashion, “Minimum Rage” slows things down while increasing the intensity. Chugging and lurching in cathartic vent, the brutality is raw and dirty, the dirge laden main riff a cause for concern. Good Cop are a band who see all that is wrong with the World and want to grab it by the throat and choke off its air supply. If only it were that simple. [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. I Identify As a Death Threat
2. Nice Shot, Nancy Boy!
3. Hunting Party
4. 241 @ Dignitas
5. Ol’ Yeller Got the Drop On Me
6. Minimum Rage

“No Country For the Young” by Good Cop is out 12th January 2024 via Prank Monkey Records