V/A – Go Kick Ass Vol. 4. (Cartridge Heart Records)

Compilations can sometimes be a mixed bag, but when a dedicated label does them right, they are the absolute best way to discover your next favorite band. Cartridge Heart Records, a highly prolific record label based out of Toronto, Ontario, completely understands how to put together a killer showcase. They have recently dropped Go Kick Ass Vol. 4, a massive, comprehensive collection of songs delivered by a mind-blowing number of exceptional independent bands. Packed with 32 tracks, this compilation is a perfect document proving exactly how rich, energetic, and creative the underground music scene is right now. The sheer variety of sounds packed into one place makes this release so incredibly fun to spin. Cartridge Heart Records didn’t just stick to a single, narrow niche. Instead, Go Kick Ass Vol. 4 offers a full spectrum of genres. The tracklist flows from fast-paced skate punk, driving melodic punk rock, and catchy pop-punk, all the way over to gritty garage rock, alternative, and indie. They even throw in heavy doses of post-hardcore, screamo, and emo, alongside some highly welcome country and folk influences. Across these 32 songs, you will get to meet outstanding acts like Lyfe Skillz, Last Drag, Moore Ave, Motion Sickness, The Mendozaz, Nothing Serious, Teal Hyena, Speedbump Sally, Gnargoyle, Big Evil, Burner, Pink Leather Jackets, Delaware, Mip Power Trio, Alert The Audience, The Supervoids, and many, many more. The best part about this entire project is that there is no filler, every single band stepped up and contributed an excellent song.

Throwing 32 different artists onto one release can easily become a chaotic, exhausting listen if the label isn’t careful. However, the folks at Cartridge Heart Records clearly thought a lot about sequencing, dynamics, and groove. The track order is perfectly arranged, mixing the heavy, fast-paced hitters with the more melodic, mid-tempo tracks, making sure the compilation keeps your attention from start to finish. If you know anything about the technical side of the music business, you probably know how producing and mastering massive compilation volumes can be a huge challenge. Dealing with dozens of bands who recorded in different studios with different gear usually results in uneven audio levels, but the mastering job here is perfectly done. The entire compilation sounds cohesive. Each song is vividly hearable, properly volumed up, and punches through the speakers with clarity, so your listening pleasure is more than guaranteed. Go Kick Ass Vol. 4 is an absolute treat for anyone even remotely into these styles of music. It is a brilliant, highly enjoyable mixtape that perfectly captures the current pulse of the independent circuit. You should immediately head over to the Cartridge Heart Records Bandcamp page and listen to this massive collection digitally. Better yet, purchase a compact disc and support the label and these hard-working bands directly. You definitely need this compilation in your physical record collection.