One of the world’s biggest, best, and most exciting ska bands put out a half of an album in June. While Start-Track’s entire mission is about helping smaller artists grow and gain recognition, some albums are just too good to not write about. So when one of the most successful ska bands puts out a half of an album (and it’s this damn good), you can’t help but to write about it.
I am talking about Hey-Smith from Japan, who just released a split EP with Less Than Jake called Unity. It contains six songs — three by each band — and it is absolutely incredible. For anyone who knows anything about ska in Japan, Hey-Smith surely has long been on your radar. They sell out massive venues and have monstrous crowds singing along and dancing to every word of every song.
I’m not going to cover the Less Than Jake side of the album, because most of my readers are American and likely have known Less Than Jake for decades, but I think there is a good number that might not be aware of the incredible sound that is Hey-Smith’s.
The first song on the album “Voodoo, Go To Zoo” begins with a four-count on the cymbals and an incredibly powerful horns line reminiscent of Streetlight Manifesto’s “We Will Fall Together”. Crisp, clean, loud, and powerful drums set a pace while the bass and guitars drive along underneath, but they let the horns take full control. Then, as the vocals come in, they layer over a fast-paced but undeniably ska punk guitar rhythm. The horns come back just as strong, and the drums deliver incredibly fast blast beats through several parts of the song, driving the tempo to insane levels before slower melodic vocals beg you to sing along. This song creates its own niche between Streetlight Manifesto and Kill Lincoln. I’ve listened to this song over a hundred times and I love it more each time.
The second song on the album is “Blooming in Your Heart”. The horns in this song feel a little more like ’90s ska punk: Big and punchy, but like Reel Big Fish or Suburban Rhythm. But the pace is still breakneck for the rest of the band. The song is about falling in love and bringing his partner her favorite flower, and giving her the sun and moon and watching her light up with joy. It’s upbeat and danceable and fast and fun, and I want to get up and skank my ass off. The way they make these fast rhythms and then hold the notes on their “yeahs” is just incredibly fun.
The third and final song is a re-recording of “Proud and Loud”. It begins with another loud aggressive horn line that leads the song. Hey-Smith puts the horns front and center as well as any ska band I’ve ever heard. The song is ninety instrumental seconds (with the exception of HEY HEY HEY, PROUD AND LOUD), but it takes you on a journey, with a nice sax breakdown to take you away from the trumpets and trombone before bringing you back. I only wish the song was a little bit longer; it feels like it cuts off a bit prematurely.
Anyway, this is hands down the best half album I could ask for. But it’s not like any other ska bands put out a half album in June 2026… Right?
Take a listen to Hey-Smith’s tracks on Unity below, and afterwards, check out Less Than Jake’s as well.
Written by Gimp Leg
