Sainte Catherines

Four years is a lifetime in punk, but the long-awaited follow-up to 2006's Dancing For Decadence is finally here and it doesn't sound anything like you expected. Having spent the last few years immersed in their alt-country side-project, Yesterday's Ring, the band have grown tired of separating their influences, merging two distinct songwriting tendencies into one big, slow-burning pot. The result is not unlike the last American Steel record, which similarly saw them break down the walls between riotous punk and their pop alter ego, Communiqué. With Fire Works, the Sainte Catherines offer a slower, more methodical version of the high-octane punk jams they were once known for, but the intelligence and catchiness remain intact. It takes a few spins to acclimatize to this newer, more methodical incarnation of the band, but the songs quickly reveal themselves to be as interesting and memorable as anything in the Sainte Catherines' back catalogue. Give the record a day and you'll dig it.