This split sees Haywire and No Guard both taking their sound in fresh directions as they contribute two new tracks apiece plus a cover of a track from each other’s discography.

‘Dreaming up a better way to live, With you by my side, All the hard times was me and you, It’s the only thing that kept me alive’ (Always By My Side)

Haywire, who are the brainchild of Austin Sparkman formerly of Conservative Military Image, rather erupted into people’s consciousness with the release of their 2024 debut album, Conditioned For Demolition.  It was an unapologetically combative and confrontational expression of the Boston hardcore tradition.

This follow-up sees the band take a rather more melodic, if no less passionate, turn.  The themes of friendship and loyalty remain prominent, but both of their new tracks are built much more centrally around vibrantly resonant bass lines and big shout along choruses.  The raucous opener Summer Nights ends with an acoustic flourish that rather calls to mind Agnostic Front’s Pauly The Dog, while the standout is the bittersweet anthem Always By My Side.  They conclude with a wholehearted cover of No Guard’s Me And You from their 2024 7-inch, War Over Me.

‘Everything just falls apart, In this cramped, busted place, I know we ain’t got much, But there’s a smile on my face’ (Dirtbag)

No Guard hail from Illinois and have toured with Conservative Military Image, who also contributed to the track Lack on War Over Me, which no doubt laid the groundwork for this split.  The shift in their sound for this release is, perhaps, less pronounced but no less clear.  The grit is dialled down just a touch, and the melody upped a notch as they give their oi-tinged punk a scuzzier makeover on Dirt Bag and True Love.  They round things off with a rousing cover of Love Song from Haywire’s debut album.