A self-proclaimed excuse for some buddies “to get together on Friday and Saturday nights to drink booze,” Serious Problems apparently woke up Sunday morning with a 5-song EP hangover. And as it goes with hardcore garage punk, five songs are generally all you need anyway.

Over the course of the EP, the hardcore hallmarks are all there – thrashing two-minute songs full of disaffected ferocity. However, that ferocity is shouted at you by a singer who occasionally (gasp!) approaches a melodic line. And that thrashing is peppered with precise and slicing guitar solos – there are even backing vocals! With that variety, all told it’s a developed and impressive debut for just a couple of drinking buddies. Beer and guitars will do that.