SICKPAY “Pureocracy”

Alien Body Music, 2022

Music: Punk Rock / Rock
Website: https://sickpay.bandcamp.com
Duration: 16:00 (5 tracks)
Country: U.S.A

To add some diversity to my playlist after listening to some good old Death Metal and fiery fast Heavy Metal, I got into a Post-Punk/Rock band Sickpay. Based out of Brooklyn, the band will be a treat for you if you follow bands such as Drive Like Jehu, Leftover Crack and Lightning Bolt. I, myself, am not a big fan of such classic acts, but I do follow the Punk scene – mainly because of my likeness to Metalcore(Metalcore being an aggressive evolution of Hardcore Punk!). Amidst the pandemic, the multi-instrumentalist Mike Birnbaum wrote “Pureocracy”. Flaunting a total of 5 tracks, the album is roughly based on the current state of the world. In a way, the album seems like a big anthem that will surely interest those who like Rock and Punk.

The album starts with “Quiet as a Joke” – a very good album starter that encompasses a catchy tune coupled with perfect vocals. Although vocals are something that I find very hard to relate to, on many songs, with Mike I was instantly hooked! For a 5-track EP, bands must nail the very first minute – and I can say Mike hit it out of the Park with this track on “Pureocracy”. If you are surprised to see the quality of this track, let me tell you a bit about Mike Birnbaum. Mike is an accomplished composer. To give you an idea, he cultivated an image for himself under the moniker “D. Gookin”. The difference is that D. Gookin heavily relies on Modern Music, he calls it “Upbeat Electronic Pop”.

The second track “Devoid” is anything but Electro Pop. Energetic yet Catchy, Mike unleashes his best through this track. It is like Mike bluffs you with a silent opener only to flaunt out his true potential through the second one. The third track, “How Many Times” is the one that I believe will be a fan favourite. The reason is the song’s closeness to a band like Nirvana. Mike knows the trend and he, for sure, understands what his fans would like. Good track, and a sensational way to impart a nostalgic feel to those who like Nirvana or Grunge in general. After a 3-minute track, “Generosity”, Mike closes the album with “Sick Pay”. Though I did not enjoy it when compared to the first half, it is still a solid way to end an album!

Overall, “Pureocracy” is an EP that surely shows off the songwriting skills of Mike Birnbaum. He surely will make a name for himself out there. The only remark that I have is that the EP is too small to show the world his talent. I would expect him to produce a full length. Something that I would do – mixes the upbeat electronic sound of Gookin and the chaotic nature of Sickpay. It will form a perfect Industrial sound if the electronics are a bit angst-filled. But, hey, I am no musician to tell a celebrated artist what to do!