Speed Won’t Cut It is a mighty roar to get you to your feet, incite a closed fisted punch of the air, and arouse the spirit to stand defiant and proud. It is also the new irresistible punk incitement from UK punks Juno, a band just bubbling under finding major attention for a while now but now giving it an almighty nudge with their latest four-track EP.
Formed in 2008, the Leeds band sparked keen interest with their debut release We are Juno. A trio initially, they expanded attention and their line-up by the time of second EP Set Sail in 2009. A short break followed before a new head of stream saw the band return with the acclaimed Counting Backwards Causes Explosions EP. It was six tracks of boisterous rock ‘n’ roll which with its 2012 unleashing, drew a host of new fans and led to the band signing with The Animal Farm and the release of its successor Answers a year later, a proposition which eclipsed its predecessor in sound, persuasion, and success. Aligned to a potent live presence and craft which has seen Juno share stages with the likes of Summerlin, ACiD DROP, The Roughneck Riot, Twenty Twenty, Blitz Kids, Forgotten Roots, Adelaide, The Afterparty, Page 44, Failsafe, The Headstart and many more, the foursome of lead vocalist/guitarist Rob Kirk, lead guitarist/vocalist James Duncan, bassist/vocalist Ben Rowe, and drummer Matt Grum are now ready to pounce on full nationwide recognition without stopping at those boundaries and it all starts with the highly tempting Speed Won’t Cut It.
Merciless hooks and swinging melodies have always been a part of the band’s punk ‘n’ roll offerings but alongside the band’s energy, all have gone up the gears within the new EP. It opens up with new single/video Last Dance, a track which ensures its invitation is quickly taken by feet. It is pure contagious punk rock with a flavoursome touch of AFI to it, though it quickly enforces its own lively character upon ears and imagination. With busy rhythmic bait and fiery guitar enterprise backing up Rob’s anthemically leading vocals, it is gripping stuff and just the start of the voracious revelry to follow.
Will I Be Free steps up next, immediately offering attitude in its riffs and jabbing beats. That continues into the quickly established canvas of jagged guitar tempting and band harmonies, Rob’s voice the ringleader as Ben’s bass prowls deceptive calms before one incendiary chorus. As with the first track, you cannot claim that Juno are re-inventing punk rock but few songs and indeed bands have set ears and emotions alight as effortlessly and rousingly recently as Juno in their first two songs on the EP alone.
Across the tracks the luring of physical participation from voice and body is inevitable and continues with the swinging stroll of Sirens. An arguably less imposing encounter but no weak link in stirring up spirit and thick enjoyment, the song bounds along throwing hooks into a gripping sonic resourcefulness to, like the Pied Piper, tantalise and seduce ears and spirit.
Speed Won’t Cut It ends on its biggest high and the mighty call to arms of Face Our Demons. Like a melodic punk version of Stiff Little Fingers, the track makes thick nudges on thoughts and emotions as its web of guitar tenacity and rhythmic pugnacity aids the song’s inescapable rebel rousing. The track is glorious; an inflammatory slice of intense punk ‘n’ roll which by its unstoppable and virulent finale, is sure to have the listener standing tall and yelling enough is enough to those and things which have taken advantage and more. It certainly did here.
Juno songs have a social and emotionally political aspect to their words which seems to further fire up the sounds around them and in turn the listener. It is a balanced weave though, which makes Juno easily stand out from similarly intense propositions whilst providing a hell of a great time, as proven by the must have Speed Won’t Cut It.
The Speed Won’t Cut It EP is out now across most online stores
http://www.wearejuno.com/ https://www.facebook.com/junoleeds https://twitter.com/wearejuno
Pete RingMaster 10/03/2016
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