Stream here: https://despiteeverything.bandcamp.com/album/trails
Full disclosure: I have the pleasure of knowing these guys so maybe this review is biased but at the same time, maybe I don’t give a shit because this EP is better than most EPs I’ve heard this year. Also, just look at how handsome these dudes are:
Hey guys,
who’s your favourite Greek punk band? Oh, you don’t know any?
That’s cool because I’m here to educate your dangerous minds like
a modern day Michelle Pfeiffer.
Hailing
from the birthplace of democracy, these modern day Platos have been
putting out records since ’09 and touring relentlessly since. Their
2014 record “The Dawn Chorus” showed the band transitioning into
a more melodic and catchier sound and their 2016 release, Trails,
picks up where they left off and guess what? It’s better in every
single fucking way.
Let’s
start with production - this records sounds rad. It’s clean, tight
and punchy with each instrument having enough room in the mix to
really shine through - this is a much more focussed record than their
previous releases. Which is awesome because there are shitload of
hooks, melodic riffs and sing-along choruses to get stuck in your
ever degrading grey matter. Enough of the sound babble, are the songs
any good?
No.
Just
kidding, there’s not a bad track on here (ಠ⌣ಠ)
Like any
good story, let’s start at the beginning. From this point onwards
this review will mimic the structure of a soft-core erotic novella.
Tangled
Lines (The lovers undress each other)
Boy do I
love a good fade in, yeah maybe it’s not that original but what is
these days? Have you seen the latest Gillette razor? I swear every
“upgrade” they just add another blade and some sexy racing
stripes as well as a vibrate feature (ladies 😉) to get “The
closest shave ever™”. Much like a razor, this song cuts straight
in with crisp instrumentation juxtaposed against gruff, raspy vocals.
One thing that’s immediately evident - things are a little slower,
more mid-tempo and more deliberate. The chorus is catchy as fuck.
There’s a cool breakdown which initially I though was wanky, but I now air guitar to. 🎸
Dead
Weight (The lovers softly caress each other)
Another
mid-tempo banger that breaks straight into driving guitars and lovely
guitar work throughout the whole track. What’s this? Another catchy
chorus with a rad guitar riff to complement it? Yes ma’am! Drums
and bass are perfectly locked in, keeping this song tight and
allowing the voice and guitars to shine. Towards the end, things
mellow out slightly and there are even some decent woahs, which are
notoriously hard to nail before the track bangs your face clean off
your head leaving you faceless like Nicholas Cage in that one movie.
Joke’s
On Us (Foreplay)
The first
single released and, with it, an awesome video:
A song
about alienation, growing up and wondering where you are in life.
Possibly my favourite song on this EP mostly due to THAT chorus and
THAT guitar riff. Great gang vocals again leading into an awesome
bridge (guitars sounding delightful here) and then an outro - this
song just powers through and does not let up. Did I mention these
guys were handsome? Check out the video and see what I mean.
My Day
(Missionary position)
Click
ins. I like them - it’s like you’re seeing the band live which is
cool because this song’s a fast one. It starts off similar to the
other tracks, gruff and melancholic then the chorus hits and it’s -
kinda happy? The lyrics aren’t, but the music is slightly more
upbeat and that makes it stick out and burrow itself into your brain
like one of those crazy pork tapeworms. There’s even an awesome
breakdown - not something you hear often in gruff punk stuff so it’s
a refreshing inclusion. Possibly my second favourite song on this
record.
Watered
Down (Missionary position)
This is
the “softest” song on the record. Things get mid-tempo again and
dare I say it, a little pop-punk in places? Another great chorus and
an ever better bridge make this a nice break before the final song.
Lyrically I think it’s about watering down your wine to make it
last longer? I mean I know there’s a financial crisis going on, but
come on guys. Please buy this record so the band can enjoy undiluted
wine.
High
and Dry (Climax followed immediately by shame and disappointment)
The last
song. Time to go out in style. What a pretty little intro, it reminds
me of some of their more instrumental tracks on The Dawn Chorus.
Could it be a soft little number to see us out? NOPE, IT’S A
FUCKING TRAP BITCHES. Just as you’re settling into a melodic
intro the song bursts into life and grabs you by the scrotum.
Musically it’s the most nostalgic and melancholic of the six tracks
but the raspy vocals kick those shitty cobwebs away leading into
ANOTHER catchy chorus and fitting outro.
I’m not
going to lie. This is not a happy album. But it’s catchy as the measles
and is a massive step in the right direction for a band who have finally
found their sound. Also, misery loves company so there’s that too.
Catch
them at Manchester Punk Festival (20–22 April) and around April in
other UK venues!
Get it
here: http://despiteeverything.bigcartel.com/
Check
them out here: http://www.despiteeverything.net/
Give
them a like here: https://www.facebook.com/despiteeverythingmusic
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