You would think that a band that’s been around for 25 years would be running out of steam by now. You’d be wrong.

With Sound the Alarm, the newest EP from legendary Gainesville, FL, ska punk band Less Than Jake, being an old band doesn’t mean that one should act their age. Comprised of Chris DeMakes (vocals/guitar), Roger Lima (vocals/bass), Buddy Schaub (trombone), Peter “JR” Wasilewski (saxophone) and Vinnie Fiorello (drums), LTJ fill every single minute of their Pure Noise Records debut with all the great ska punk sounds fans have been loving since the late 1990s.

The EP kicks off with “Call to Arms,” with Lima strumming on his bass before the entire band joins in and shreds for two and a half minutes of pure punk. Short and sweet, this opener is meant to excite the listener, and you’ll probably be dancing along.

The pure ska track “Whatever the Weather” is just filled with happy-go-lucky vibes. The brass section adds power to DeMakes’s upstrokes on his guitar for a solid three minutes, while Fiorello and Lima lay down some funky beats.

“Bomb Drop” is your good old punk rock song with an amazing sing-along chorus that feels like this was written for radio stations in the 90s. Schaub and Wasilewski’s brass section is the strongest on this track.

The next track, “Welcome to My Life,” isn’t the strongest track on this EP, as it merely sounds like filler. It’s an easily passable track, but the beat and brass will make you smile.

The longest track on Sound the Alarm is “Good Sign,” another punk rock song ripped straight out of the 90s clocking in at three and a half minutes.

“Years of Living Dangerously” is one of the most interesting tracks off this EP. DeMakes talks about his past regrets on this track, singing, “I won’t waste another night stuck here explaining why/ But this noise inside can’t keep my balance right/ It’s been a mystery, what makes me feel this crazy.”

“Things Change” closes the album on a high note, having the listener either dancing or head banging throughout the nearly three minute track.

These Florida greybeards do nothing new with Sound the Alarm. It’s the same old shtick that we’ve come to love from these guys. Much like every other album or EP the band has released in their 25 years, Sound the Alarm is a fun record for those who love sing-alongs and moshing.

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