Salem - Salem

We all know the story by now: 2020 has offered up all manner of unexpected events. But one that’s arguably more pleasant than most is the emergence of Salem, the new project from Creeper’s Will Gould. A collaboration with Will’s friend and Creeper guitar tech Matt Reynolds - which originally began life as a way to blow off steam and have some fun - the duo’s debut EP is a welcome dalliance with the punk rock bands that so inform Will’s day job. High octane from the off, the EP’s five tracks see them channeling into the infectious heart of modern day punk music and then some; opener ‘Fall Out Of Love’’s gang vocals feel glorious while ‘Doomed (For Each Other)’ is an adrenaline-fuelled offering that just begs for the crowd-surfing of days gone by. And while Creeper’s sights are admittedly a little loftier these days - you won’t find too many doo-wop melodies here - there’s something rather comforting about hearing the frontman return to his roots, even if it technically wasn’t ever supposed to see the light of day.