And we kinda knew it would come to this… when you’ve got a problem, you’ve got a fucking problem…

The Icarus Line’s only problem, really, has been their ability to tie members down – now in their nth formation, following another between-album shuffle of personnel (livewire guitarist Aaron North decamped to Nine Inch Nails, presumably for a little peace), the Joe Cardamone-fronted LA outfit have all but ditched the filthy punk of their previous barnstormer of an LP, Penance Soiree, for something considerably more jangly. ‘Gets Paid’ isn’t exactly the ideal preview for the forthcoming Black Lives At The Golden Coast album, but it is the most blissed-out, summer-of-love-styled single this blood, sweat ‘n’ tears quintet has ever issued.

Put it this way: old-timers will screw their faces up at the melodious qualities of ‘Gets Paid’, bemoaning the complete lack of savagery, while newcomers attracted by both the band’s recent support slots with The Lemonheads and the relative calm of this single will be absolutely blown away by its parent record on the horizon. In other words: veterans of these hibernating firebrands, sit tight and ride out these comparative doldrums; the freshly initiated, prepare to have your ears stuffed with sleaze riffs from another dimension. Well, another state of mind, anyway. Probably a very much less-than-sober one.

A pair of b-sides here – ‘Cut Back The Heard’ and ‘Watch Your Step’ – serve as reminders of the band’s take-no-prisoners approach to punk-rock songwriting – they’re echoes of the past, for sure, but still as refreshing as the first drops of rain to fall on a summer-scorched and filth-stained LA back alley. Washes the shit away and cleanses the scene ready for another assault on its dankest corners.

So the problem is, now: does anyone still give a fuck about the most upfront and honest punk rockers on this or any other block? Frankly, if they don’t, they’ve got a fucking problem…

Listen here; watch here (with added Annie Hardy)