Not for nothing did Gallus open for Therapy? last year. Sure, they share the same record label, but there’s also a clear sonic synergy.
“My friend for life, I fucked his wife,” they sing on the title track. And let’s face it—Andy Cairns is probably nodding in approval.
What this really shows, though, is that the Glaswegians—bonus points for singing in their own accents—have a knack for writing that cuts beyond the norm.
This 15-minute, five-song blast of scuzzy punk builds on their debut, “We Don’t Like the People We’ve Become,” but with sharper, better songs. “Depressed Beyond Tablets” isn’t just an explosion of energy; it’s clever, with a melody that lingers.
Musically, “Cool to Drive” pushes boundaries. The bass groove on “Perfect Health” screams “club at 3 a.m. on a Saturday,” while its satirical “and you can be like me” suggests that might be the last thing you’d actually want.
Then there’s the swing and sneer of “Just Desserts,” a track that takes aim at bands coasting by on “copy and paste” songwriting. Barry Dolan half-raps the verses, delivering a cutting critique that’s about as far from Gallus’ ethos as you can get.
The anger here is barely concealed. On the relentless “It Bit,” frustration spills out in just over 130 seconds. “I’m the heavyweight champion of fuck all,” Dolan sings. And while they insist the EP is written from the perspective of semi-fictional characters, there’s enough raw emotion here to suggest they’re channeling their own resentment, too.
More punk and less indie than “We Don’t Like the People We’ve Become,” “Cool to Drive” is further proof that Gallus are a band to watch. And in case there was any doubt, these songs reinforce what their former tourmates once said: happy people have no stories.
Rating: 8.5/10
REVIEW: GALLUS – COOL TO DRIVE (2025)
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