Press Shot Kana Waiwaiku
It has not taken us long to find a firm and eager appetite for the releases and sounds coming out of UK label Cool Thing Records; a hunger borne from ear grabbing releases courtesy of its owners, the outstanding Asylums, as well as those of The Horse Heads, BAIT, and Indian Queens. Now we can add Suspects to the list and a debut EP which just sizzled on the senses.
Southend-on-Sea hailing, the duo has certainly earned keen praise and support from their singles to date but now together with a fourth imagination gripping song will surely make a greater impression and impact as part of the Recovery EP. Their fervent roar is punk bred but with a garage rock inspired ferocity and grunge nurtured scuzz which simply adds to one hungry lure. Equally there is inherent catchiness to its feral rock ‘n’ roll, a mix which hints at bands such as The Sea and In The Whale but springs its own attention grabbing flaming holler.
Recorded with producer Thomas Mitchener (Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Gallows, The Futureheads, Asylums), Recovery opens up with its title track. Swiftly an instinct luring melody teases from the guitar of Thomas Prescott, its elegant yet slightly raw coaxing proving irresistible as too its creator’s potent vocals which are soon in league with its temptation. It is a relatively calm but emotively alive beginning hinting of an underlying volatility that soon explodes in a tempestuous stroll driven by the bold and magnetic rhythms of James May. In full rampancy, the track is dirty yet radiant, corrosive but rousing, familiarities aligning to uniqueness as it sets inescapable persuasion on ears.
The thrilling start to the release is richly backed by next up Anaphylactic Shock, a swift and rapacious slice of sonic incitement offering one minute fourteen seconds of the most rabid and virulent punk rock likely to be heard this year. Enslavement was swift, a hunger for more just as rapid and quickly fed by Innocence. With a more controlled but no less wild gait, the track stalks ears with its senses scything beats and scuzz bearing grooves. Prescott’s vocals are just as intense and voracious let alone adventurous amongst them with Hammond toned keys adding to the song’s broad yet acute character. As the tracks around it, the song crackled on the senses and lingered in the imagination, pleasure fired up with every twist and turn.
Armageddon And Me completes the quartet of tracks, and immediately owns its moment of domination. Carnal riffs and swiping rhythms are instantly unleashed, Green Day shaded contagion just as eager as the sludge/grunge natured tonic which fired up song and spirit alike. It provides a seriously rousing and thrilling end to an EP just as tenacious and dynamic in its every breath.
In its relatively short life Cool Thing Records has already been the gateway to some rather special adventures and encounters, the Recovery EP just continues that riveting trend.
The Recovery EP is released May 31st via Cool Thing Records.
https://www.facebook.com/suspectsuk/ https://twitter.com/_wearesuspects
https://coolthingrecords.bandcamp.com
Pete RingMaster 29/05/2019
Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright
Southend based Bait first tempted almost taunted us with a track upon the Alternative Occupations EP from Cool Thing Records which featured four of its striking bands. The intrigue and appetite the song bred was richly fed by the debut Bait album, addictively satisfied by the unique fusion of punk, post punk, and industrial espionage which thrilled within. So you can imagine the tingle when the band’s vocalist/songwriter Michael Webster got in touch with their latest track. Of course there are never guarantees, expectations and assumptions always there to be shot down but not this time. DLP was another addiction in the waiting and a big excuse for us to again push you all towards the creative exploits of Mike, Luke Branch, Jim Webster, and M R E.
Asylums set things rolling with a new previously unreleased track written and recorded as the busy wake of releasing acclaimed debut album Killer Brain Waves was settling down and the aftermath of Brexit consuming, that album still drawing plaudits and excited new fans the way of the foursome. Reflecting on “harsh education and health service cuts, post-Brexit Britain, and the running battle of grafting at creative efforts vs. grafting to keep afloat”, Alternative Occupations descends on ears with searing guitars and robust rhythms, openly sharing the creative traits which made the album and its songs such a rousingly infectious proposition. The warm and engaging vocals of guitarist Luke Branch increase the enticement, lyrical suggestion to the fore as melodies fly skilfully from his and fellow guitarist Jazz Miell’s strings. Feet are swiftly recruited in turn by the rhythmic tenacity of drummer Henry Tyler; it courting the seductive throb of Michael Webster’s bass as every element combines for another unique, memorable, and instinctively irresistible Asylums encounter.
Mixing a handful of treats from their previous EPs/singles with new slices of angular revelry, the foursome of vocalist/guitarist Luke Branch, guitarist Jazz Miell, drummer Henry Tyler, and bassist Michael Webster open up Killer Brain Waves with the mighty Second Class Sex. Its first breath brings a senses swamping tide of meaty rhythms and nagging riffs engaged in a toxicity of sound which simply infests the psyche. Though its spreads its body into a more expansive tempting, that energy never diminishes. Webster’s bass groans and growls in ears; a great lure matched by the swinging intent of Tyler as the swirling sonic seduction of the guitars lay their trap. With vocals just as potent and a touch of White Noise era XTC to the mix, it is a stunning start to the release, and one not losing a beat as I’ve Seen Your Face In a Music Magazine steps up next.
The foursome of Luke Branch, Jazz Miell, Henry Tyler, and Michael Webster introduced us to their scintillating creative credentials through the exceptional Wet Dream Fanzine EP this past February. It was a three track collection of the band’s singles to date, and a slightly deranged explosion of angular noise pop to get lustful over. Released via the band’s own Cool Thing Records, the EP was an inescapable wakeup call later backed by the single Joy In A Small Wage. Play-listed by Radio One amongst thick support and attention all round, the track opened up the more seductively mellow side of the Asylums sound whilst accentuating a busy summer of success which saw the band playing a host of UK and European Festivals including Glastonbury. Now it is the turn of Missing Persons to light a fuse to swift acclaim and hungry new appetites for more; success hard to see being escaped such the persuasion of the richly dynamic song.
minutes the track takes to leap all over and inflame the passions.