Japanese punk outfit The Smog have that uncanny quality that makes you double-check the release date—are they a current band or a lost gem from the late ’70s UK punk scene? Their sped-up, roughed-up power pop sounds so spot-on it’s tempting to ask for the secret formula.

Speed Of Life is their fifth 7″ since debuting in 2018, and the still-missing LP suggests The Smog prefer to operate strictly at 45RPM—and honestly, it totally works. Drop the needle on Speed Of Life and you’ll get it: an anthemic, high-octane pop punk banger that would’ve triggered a collector frenzy if it had come out in ’77. Flipside New Game dials back the speed just a bit, landing somewhere between The Jam and a busted amp.

Another killer release from Going Underground Records.

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