I’m finally holding this EP in my hands. I’d been looking forward to it ever since I found out this demo was getting released on a 7” vinyl. I first noticed Ante a few months ago, when the first mentions of the project started appearing online. According to the booklet, the demo was recorded as a three-piece, and unless I’m mistaken, the drummer here is the singer from Slugger. And if I am wrong, you’ll have to forgive your humble narrator for a small informational slip-up. Looking at more recent band photos, I noticed a slightly changed lineup and the addition of a second guitar, so it’s clear the band is already moving forward. This demo was self-released by the crew from Chico, California at the end of 2025.
Musically, Ante play melodic streetpunk packed with fun tempo changes, strong hooks, and insanely catchy ideas that they manage to turn into genuinely excellent songs. The opening track Petty Lies grabbed me from the very first seconds and hasn’t let go even after repeated listens. It’s exactly the kind of song that feels a little different from your standard streetpunk formula, and that’s precisely where its strength lies. Lyrically, anyone who has ever been trapped in a dysfunctional relationship will understand this one, so by the end of high school most people probably already get the message. San Francisco, dedicated to the band’s hometown, is just as catchy. The bass and vocals create a slightly melancholic atmosphere while the guitar flows over everything with melodic leads and hooks.
On the B-side, Ante push things a bit harder and add more energy, but the melancholic feeling remains present throughout almost the entire record. Never Alone could be a song about running away from yourself, but it could just as easily be about friendship or the need for someone close to you. I’ll leave that up to each listener’s interpretation. The closing track Stakes feels like the most punk song on the whole EP to me. Maybe it’s because of the theme of inner pain and the attempt to somehow silence it. The whole record will perfectly fit people who aren’t afraid of a more melancholic streetpunk sound, personal themes, and don’t need every second song to be about street fights, bars, and hatred toward society.
This is one hell of a debut and I absolutely love it. I honestly didn’t plan on writing such a stupidly positive review, but there’s no way around it — this EP is just incredibly enjoyable. And I’m even happier that I can finally spin it at home on vinyl. I play it so often that I’m starting to think my neighbors are humming these songs on their way to work. That is, assuming they manage to wake up in time after another sleepless night.
TOP TRACKS: Petty Lies, San Francisco
