EP Review: No-One Is Coming To Save You

The rural Waikato servicing towns of Morrinsville, Matamata, Te Aroha aren’t exactly cultural capitals in the punk world. Studded collars here are more likely to be on a pig dog than a kid with a mohawk. But smalltown Aotearoa can be full of surprises…

Featuring members of Foamy Ed, The Shanx, and Poison Skies – and having previously had the moniker Offal Pit Stilletoe (don’t ask, the band says) – The Vile Maxim’s debut EP No One Is Coming To Save You comes on the heels of several exciting live slots for the band including Foundation Fest 2025 and opening for Erase Everything.

No One Is Coming To Save You is a pretty straight-up mix of Skate Punk attitude with a bit of Pop-Punk structure and arrangement. The Vile Maxim make use of all the tools in the punk rock repertoire, including furious power chords, lightning snare runs, prominent bass lines, and a good dose of ‘fuck you’ vocal style. There are also elements of D-Beat, and the heavy rock stylings of Motörhead, particularly in the vocals. There is certainly a harder edge here compared to something like Bad Religion or NOFX.

“Let’s fuckin’ go” is the rallying call into the title track before the band romp through what the listener will soon learn is their signature quickfire verse/chorus structure. A grungy breakdown section and gang vocal bridge provide some nice touches to round out the track.

Newtown is an ode to the old days in Sydney’s Inner West. Starting with a classic punk intro – a single chord riff and 32nd note snare drum roll sequence into a frantic thrashing beat – the main riff quickly turns with a half-time drum groove breaking things up. The track then settles into a familiar loud to quiet dynamic with the verse.

Ill Vibrations then kicks off with a melodic guitar line that carries the song through another rapid-fire verse/chorus/verse/chorus combo. Deadman begins with a sharp intro before quickly moving into a catchy verse and chorus. The instrumental in the middle of the song adds some chaotic fun (you’re never quite sure where the riffs are going to end, even after multiple listens) before returning to the verse and chorus structure to finish off.

These first four tracks all unfold relatively evenly and draw from the same selection of ingredients. It’s fast, it’s furious, it’s punk, what more could you want?

However the last track, Richmond Downs, introduces some new touches. Again, it’s a kind of nostalgic track, seemingly about a transformative experience “In the hills of Richmond Downs” near Matamata. It’s when they explore these types of themes that The Vile Maxim are at their best.

Once they’ve smashed through the familiar formula laid out on the rest of the record, a spacey, drawn-out guitar and bass interlude signals a welcome change of pace into a four-on-the-floor groove and build up. Adding this small element really rounds the release off and gives it an extra dimension. Of course, they have to end with one final frenzied verse.

Engineered and mixed by Evan Pope at Studio 11b in Mount Maunganui, and Mastered by Dave Rhodes, the production on No One Is Coming To Save You is just slick enough. Not too raw, but certainly not overproduced for the genre either.

Drawing from all the components you’d expect in a short, sharp punk EP, No One Is Coming To Save You also hints at avenues for The Vile Maxim to further expand their sound. It’s a solid, promising debut and I hope to hear and see more of The Vile Maxim in the future.