THAT’S PUNK: The 351’s And The NEW EP ‘NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT’

Formed in September 2023 in Quebec City, The 351’s have released their brand-new EP, ‘ NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT’. Embarking listeners on a journey through to the 1970s, as they pay homage to old school punk stirring the pot with contemporary twists and a chaotic energy. 

The 351's take their name from Steven Spielberg’s debut film ‘Duel’, in which the menacing truck is a Peterbilt 351. Guitarist Kevin Berrigan, a dedicated truck driver for over 30 years, brings this influence into the band. The phrase ‘NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT,’ popular in automotive circles, serves as a fitting double entendre here—suggesting that bigger engines (or a larger, tighter community) deliver greater power.

The track ‘MOTHER ANARCHY’ opens with a chaotic blend of revving engines, snippets of a car radio, and fragmented voices, jumping through stations before exploding with a powerful bassline and electrifying guitars. It pulses with an intense, raw punk energy, capturing the playful yet rebellious spirit reminiscent of the Sex Pistols’ ‘God Save The Queen.’

‘FUCK ALL THE FUCKERS’ channels an intense rebellious energy, launching straight into high-octane instrumentals. Razor-sharp guitars and thunderous drums come together to embody pure anarchy, while aggressive, shouted lyrics drive the track’s relentless tempo. This song serves as a cathartic release against those who frustrate us, and a person’s unrelenting pride with raw vocals.

Then, ‘THE HEARSE SONG’ introduces a shift in tempo with a slow, eerie melody that has a childlike, haunting quality, creating an atmospheric pause from the punk intensity. A faint microphone crackle adds to the ambiance before the track bursts into an energetic guitar sequence with captivating rhythms and vivid experimentation.

The final track, ‘WHISKY AND PILLS’, stands out with a bold, resonant tone that adds depth compared to the rest of ‘NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT’. It opens with steady percussion that flows effortlessly into vibrant guitars, building a powerful, immersive wave of sound.

‘NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT’ goes above and beyond the norms of punk, not only honouring the genre but perfecting it. Told through heavy defiance, passion, and a raw punk energy like no other, The 351’s establish themselves as frontiers in the punk scene’s resurgence and identity.

Ana Joy King

@anajoyking

Image: ‘NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT’ Official EP Cover