Avem is the interesting cross-section of two very niche pursuits: Ramonescore punk rock and birdwatching. The end result is razor-sharp melodic tunes played at blistering speeds either about or from the perspective of birds. Given the circumstances of their habitat and the nature of… nature, the source material can get pretty dark.

“Come Back To Me” and “One Lonely Dove” both tackle the theme of abandonment (by means of premature mortality) while “Another Trumpet Flower Please My Good Sir” uses the poisonous plant as a stand-in for more familiar addictive substances. Side B kicks off with a pair of “bird theme songs” – the deadly “Shrike” and anthemic “American Kestrel.” Meanwhile high-speed ballad “Swim With Me” alludes to the flightless penguin lifestyle. Perhaps most striking to me is the lament to monotony “Rinse and Repeat” which is a stark contrast to uplifting earlier work “Sing Every Day”.

The record as a whole can feel pretty bleak. Our world has changed since the last Avem full-length and we’re all feeling it. Well-crafted, undeniably catchy and deceptively thoughtful, Avem’s talons may cut deep, but when they spread their wings they soar.

Avem is available digitally, on CD and on vinyl through Faster and Louder Records, Bearded Punk Records, Bloated Kat Records and Scuderie Ducali.