The Ligaments are a three-piece pizza-themed punk rock band based in London -- but fear not! They aren’t a bad '90s pop-punk flashback and they don’t actually have cheesy pizza lyrics (no pun intended). I picked up their EP at their release show in a seedy, rundown pub north of the river on a whim. I went for the free pizza and stayed for the bands (and booze). The rest of the bands were good, but definitely not as intense and memorable as the headliner. I was blown away by Zel on drums, Nitro on double bass and Jake on guitar; with the latter two sharing vocals. Now that I have returned to the states and am missing the UK life, I gave their EP a fresh listen and it did not disappoint.

“Precinct 13” opens things up with a bang -- a slow simmer that quickly transforms into a blast of energy that demands to be reckoned with. This is straight up punk with shouts of “we can’t take anymore” that makes you want to flip a table over and break a chair over someone’s back. This high energy, no strings attached track is a great starter for the more dimensional tracks to come.

In “4th,” Nitro’s double bass is the beating heart of this song. Also high energy, it brings out a hint of rockabilly to their punk rock concoction; just enough to refresh your palate. Drum fills show off Zel’s speed and precision and there’s time left to display Jake’s chops on the axe with some solo action.

While “4th” dips your toes in the rockabilly influences, “Turn to Acid” cannonballs right into it. Lots of tremolo on the guitar and smooth, yearning vocals recalls Tiger Army-styled melody, complete with complementing backing vocals. The mid-tempo makes for a dreamy track that is familiar but far from boring. Perfect for grooving in the car during a California sunset.

On the final track, “In the Black Lodge,” Nitro’s bass is once again a stand out for most of the song, but each member manages to showcase their skills collectively -- a strength every band should strive for. Smooth but crunchy, the refrain “there is no resting in the black lodge” is heard throughout and closes with an abrupt finish that leaves you hungry for more.

The mix is clear but not overly glossy, like a good punk record should be, but the drums do seem to take the backseat at times. However, when they play live, drums are definitely in your face, front and center...that is, if you don’t get distracted by Jake climbing on the amps. So much energy and heart is left on that stage so if you have the chance, do check them out! If not, the EP is a close second.