By Monk
For many years, the EP – or ‘Extended Player’, to give it its full title – was a criminally overlooked format. But, in recent years, it has made something of a deserved comeback, as bands face the challenge of continually producing new material but often not being able to commit to the cost of, or time to, recording full-length albums. They have been especially important over the past 24 months of on-and-off-on-again lockdowns and restrictions, as the format has enabled artists to snatch valuable moments of recording time to get new product out to their fans
It’s a format which Über Rock has long championed: hell, we have a ‘Top EPs’ category in our annual end-of-year writers’ poll – but, as a busy website, it is often difficult to justify devoting space to the more miniature format. So, in the return of our occasional feature – and what will probably (with our reputation) be an irregular one – I gave a listen to some of the EPs that have crossed my desk in recent weeks. So, without further ado, let’s see what recent and forthcoming releases are lying around ÜRHQ, shall we?
Aegrus – ‘The Carnal Temples’ (Osmose Productions)
Personally speaking, Finland has always been one of the trve (sic) hotbeds of black metal. It’s something to do with the bleak northern landscape that produces equally bleak soundscapes, such as that extrapolated by scene veterans Aegrus on their latest, four-track, 26-minute long offering. The quartet draw very heavily on the genre memes developed by the likes of Burzum and Mayhem, with thick, winding riffs wrapped around an almost incessant barrage of deathly blastbeats, overtopped with traditional old school throat shredding. And “old school” is very much the feel of this latest opus, as Aegrus do nothing to push the generic boundaries any further than they’ve already been explored, but tread settled territory with confidence and authority.
- ‘The Carnal Temples’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
www.facebook.com/Aegrusofficial
AngelBlast – ‘Throne Of Ashes’ (Edged Circle)
Also hailing from parts unknown of the Scandinavian archipelago, AngelBlast deliver brutally blackened death metal to a level that takes the term “brutal” to the nth degree – and then ups the ante several levels. There is no sense of remorse or regret in the aural assault that these two songs, delivered over a comparatively epic 11 minutes, bring to your aural cortexes. Once again recalling the old school dynamics of the likes of Morbid Angel and Malevolent Creation, AngelBlast deliver a sound that would definitely, and defiantly, blast the white clad winged ones from their heavenly perches deep into the darkest depths of the netherworld – and make them glad they had been granted the privilege of falling so far.
- ‘Throne Of Ashes’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
www.facebook.com/AngelBlast666
Collected – ‘Say When’ (Self-Released)
We featured this Essex alt-metal crew last weekend and are happy to revisit their camp with a fuller review of their debut offering. The quintet delivers a sound that moves between metalcore, shoegaze electronica and darkwave in a way which the likes of Enter Shikari have moulded and made their own, which perhaps would make Collected an ideal support act for their next tour. The passion the band feel for what they do is most evident in Liam Brazitis’ angst-ridden vocal delivery, while the twin guitar harmonics are beautifully interweaved, especially on standout track ‘Faceless Man’.
- ‘Say When’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
Duck & Cover – ‘Attention Economy’ (State Line Records)
Bostonian punks Duck & Cover, who are made up of ex- and current members of a number of local scenesters, such as The Coffin Lids, Bang Camaro, The Acro-brats, Taxi Driver and more, have adopted a rather unusual approach to getting this EP in front of listeners, as they are releasing each of the three tracks separately, on a monthly basis, between now and April. That means that ‘Memento Mori’ is already circulating around the Überverse, while the title track and closer, a cover of Tom Petty’s ‘You Wreck Me’, will follow in due course. But will it be worth the wait? Well, if you’re a fan of quality bruvvas-style garage-style punk ‘n’ roll with spiky guitar riffs and solid beats coupled with massive singalong choruses that sound like they’re played by guys in dollar-and-a-nickel suits and raggedy jeans, then the answer is in the affirmative, as this is most definitely, and defiantly what you get. This is proper old school, played properly (and old school).
www.facebook.com/duckandcover1
Foxhaunt – ‘Mindset’ (Self-Released)
Another band that we introduced you to a few weeks ago, these York lads deliver a ferocious alt-metal sound that lies somewhere between Scottish counterparts Biffy Clyro and the likes of US superstars such as 30STM, while also standing comfortably alongside the radio-friendly vibes of the likes of the Manics and Muse as well as prog metal iconographers like Architects. Throw in elements of nu-metal and some studied classic metal sensibilities and you have a combo who know how to craft an infectious riff – or five, in this case. If MTV was still a relevant influencer, then these guys would be dominating our screens for the guts of the next millennium…As it is: guys, get out there and do it the old-fashioned way, as you’ve got the shits to do it…
- ‘Mindset’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
Possessor – ‘The Speed Of Death’ (APF Records)
To unashamedly misquote an extremely annoying TV ad of yore, I love it when an album, or in this case an EP, does exactly what is says on the label. And that’s what this frenetic farewell offering from this now defunct London quartet does: possess you with its infectious death-infused speed metal. Drawn from the deep well of both Witchfynder troped NWoBHM and nascent Exorcist-style Bay Area thrash, this is old school speed metal that makes no apologies for its raw and energetic approach. In fact, if we didn’t know that this highly experienced troupe had just called it a day with this farewell release, then we would say that it displays the energy and enthusiasm of a bunch of NKotBs… but, then, there’s probably no better way to bow out?
- ‘The Speed Of Death’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
www.facebook.com/possessorband
The Pinpricks – ‘Rituals’ (Self-Released)
It’s a great sign when a band get your heading nodding right from the opening bar, and that’s what this German power trio do, as ‘Bait’ grabs you by the throat and demands that your bang your skull with uncaring and unrelenting abandon. It’s an understated cruncher of a riff overtopped with an acidic vocal which suddenly explodes into a tsunami of melodic yet powerful energy. Vocalist Ronja Kiminsky has drawn comparisons to Taylor Momsen, but to be brutally honest her visceral attitude reminds more of Skin, while her confidence echoes that of Lzzy Hale. With the ability to combine power pop style catchiness and melodies with acerbic alt-metal vibrations, this threesome (sic) should more than prick the conscientiousness of the wider rock ‘n’ roll intelligentsia with this declarative and emphatic debut. After this, I’m definitely looking forward to the full-length album promised for later this year…
- ‘Rituals’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
The Suicide Notes – ‘Trampstamp’ (Self-Released)
Born under the bad sign of guttercat rock n’ roll in 2019, The Suicide Notes ooze gutter-trash rock n’ roll. Low-slung buzzsaw guitars and raw nicotine-soaked vocals, rock ‘n’ roll swagger, and whiskey on the rocks; the illegitimate sons of punk and sleaze, conceived on a bed of red wine, cigarettes and back-alley attitude. Sounding like a coked-up back-alley jam between Gen X, The Wildhearts and Dogs d’Amour, ‘Trampstamp’ displays all the assured strut and swagger you expect from a bunch of British glunk ‘n’ roll troubadours brought up on a diet of equal parts Mott and Feelgood, washed down with liberal doses of Kilmister, Harvey and Miller. The Notes sign off (sic) on the legacy created by the likes of the aforementioned influences (especially SAHB and da Hoops) as well as that continued on by the likes of Ginger, Spike, Tyla et al and signs it off with a massive PS: “there’s more to come…”
- ‘Trampstamp’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
www.facebook.com/thesuicidenotesuk
Trailer Park Girl – ‘The Mixtape’ (Self-Released)
Featuring this Greek quintet’s first three single releases, it shows a band ploughing a furrow somewhere between the Spector-ama psychedelia of the late ‘60s and the riot grrl-style grunge of the mid- to late-Nineties. The result is a very retro sound, characterized by ethereal female vocals, dreamy rhythms, and a combination of moments of dense power pop, such as ‘Call Me Harvey’ and the Only Ones evoking ‘People Used To Talk About The Water’, and pixie-like hypnotism, as on the seven-minute-plus meat in the sandwich of ‘Acid Ballerina’, which definitely evokes the spirit of its title. In places it is a confusing listen, as the band don’t seem to have a clear direction but rather be experimenting with their sound and seeing what fits best, so very much a work in progress.
- ‘The Mixtape’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
www.facebook.com/Trailer-Park-Girl
Well, that’s your lot for this time around. We hope you’ve found some new and exciting sounds to tickle your aural cortexes. If you like what you’ve heard, please remember to support the bands and click the buy links at the end of each review. We should be back next month with another round up of the hottest EPs to have come our way – although, with our reputation, it might be Julember before the next feature appears! Until then (whenever it is), keep ‘er lit, keep ‘er between the hedges and keep on rockin’ and rollin’ with the website the annoys the trolls like no other can hope to do…
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