We first caught Vilder at a moment when their only release was a demo from 2024. Toward the end of last year, the band released their first LP on Contra Records. Unfortunately, right around the time of its release came the news that the band was calling it quits. This LP therefore stands as something of a posthumous record—what remains after the short existence of the band.
When we wrote about Vilder previously, we mentioned that the lineup features experienced musicians from bands like On The Rampage, The Young Ones, The Agitators, and The Pruttles. You can hear that experience clearly in the sound. The influence of The Young Ones´s sound in particular stands out almost immediately on the first listen. The band plays fast, melodic streetpunk with singalong guitar lines and strong gang vocals. The inspiration from bands like Cockney Rejects is obvious from miles away, but this is also a style that the contemporary Dutch scene handles extremely well. Projects such as Bent Out Of Shape, The Reapers, This Means War, and Day Drinker show that this scene continues to thrive in that direction. The album contains eight songs and, aside from the excellent cover artwork, it also includes all the lyrics—something I always appreciate.
The opening track Loud, Proud & Willing immediately throws the listener into the world the band clearly loves the most: a Friday night as the starting point of a long weekend filled with pub fun and time spent with friends. Having a good time is clearly the main theme here, and the same spirit continues in Boy’s Night Out. The song Radio turns its focus toward the passion for music itself, while the first side closes with Killer Tactics. For me, this track clearly leads the first side and definitely ranks among the best moments on the record. The combination of energetic music and gang vocals works perfectly here.
Side B, however, delivers some of the album’s biggest highlights. In the song Vilder, tempos shift between energetic passages and melodic guitar riffs, accompanied by playful vocals and choir-like chants that recall the atmosphere of football terraces. I really enjoy this track, and as a title song for the band it’s an excellent choice. The football-chant vibe continues in A.C.A.B., which takes a jab at our “favorite friends” dressed in blue and black: “Officer don’t get me wrong, A.C.A.B…”. I have to admit that the last time I got a fine, that line was playing in my head quite persistently. Going On is another standout track; I also like that its lyrics can be interpreted in different ways, leaving space for each listener to make their own meaning. The album closes with a classic Oi! theme—local patriotism. The band wrote a song about their region, and Limburg brings together strong choir vocals with a melodic and powerful musical line.
