The sunnier it gets, the stronger my craving for bubblegum pop punk becomes. Cue The GTO’s, Toledo’s answer to The Queers and Screeching Weasel. Thankfully, the band have finally chosen a season that matches their sound. As enjoyable as their previous two albums were, releasing them in the middle of winter always felt slightly unfair.

Open the windows, put on your sunglasses, and turn the volume up. Problemas de Ciencia Ficción (Science Fiction Problems, although Pablo, Víctor, and Miguel mostly stick to Spanish throughout) tears through 16 songs in just over 30 minutes and immediately sets the tone with opener Let’s Go!

The recurring chant of “Let’s go!” is stickier than melted ice cream on a car seat. The synth hook in Me das Asco is irresistibly sweet, but the hits keep coming from there. With Ramonescore, execution is everything, and The GTO’s sound fully locked in. Problemas de Ciencia Ficción is the most accomplished GTO’s record yet. Fast, catchy, and powered by pure summer energy, these songs bottle that magical moment when the final school bell rings, your backpack hits the floor, and the summer suddenly feels endless.

The GTO’s have the soundtrack ready.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp