8/10

Having spent the last few years releasing small EPs and singles, like last year's highly enjoyable 'Miley', California punk rockers SWMRS are back to their full-length writing days with their third studio album 'Drive North'. The band have been one of the few American punk bands to really break through to the mainstream in the last few years, and with anthems like these it is clear to see why.

While pop punk was always the more commercial of the sub-genres, with the rise of bands like Slaves and Royal Blood in the UK, it is clear that there is a change in the tide and 'Drive North' could become one of the next big hitters in the scene. With its mixture of hardcore influences and focused vision of an accessible aesthetic, SWMRS have managed to create a record that is as enjoyable as it is hair-raisingly exciting.

The power and tenacity of this band is a very rare thing to hear. From their catchy hooks to singalong choruses, the band have made it their mission to write an album that is as entertaining to new fans as it is to their core fanbase. A brilliant return from the new torchbearer of modern US punk.