Jet Fuel Chemistry are a young band with a full-grown attitude and an insightful message to share. Social media is ripping the heart out of the younger generations, fuelling depression and aimlessness and robbing them of a true identity.
Hailing from Dublin the five-piece – Danny (Bochkov) and Ed Orr on guitars, Dan on vocals, Ross McDermott on drums and the fabulously named bassist Lorcan Macken – are moved by the impact on the city in the last decade. In ‘Sign Of The Times’ they address these issues, highlighting the general misery that underlies being a young person who is influenced and pressured to create these false and shallow minded personas every day. The band have been together for three years, touring Ireland as support to well-known names such as I Prevail and Bring Me The Horizon, but are launching themselves as new for 2020. It has taken them this time to self-produce ‘Sign Of The Times’ in bassist and lead producer Lorcan’s bedroom on a bare bones budget. So I cautiously approach the EP curious as to what they have come up with.
First track ‘War’ crashes open in a fabulous screaming intro that surprises me with its intensity. The song progresses well with melodic vocal sections and pace breaks that ensure the listener stays tuned in. The style is hard to place, a bit emo a bit punk and a bit heavier than either of these. War culminates in a raging metalcore rant.
‘Sleep’ follows, the band’s recently released track that provided another taster for the EP. It’s a cacophony of sound at full gain that almost feels discordant. Perhaps the intention in this effect is to portray the anguish in the message that the more we buy into connecting through social media the further apart we become. Title track ‘Sign Of The Times’ takes a sample from Greta Thunberg’s much maligned and mocked “How dare you” speech to demonstrate the extent to which serious, even catastrophic issues may be rendered meaningless by self-focussed, individualistic society that cares more about how the speaker presents themselves than their message.
‘Fever’ is yet another accomplished track. The band rip the shit out of their guitars, with Dan’s grasping vocal performance lifting the track and shoving it hard at your face. This cracking little EP ends with the ferocious ‘Use Your Eyes’. I can’t believe this was produced in a bedroom. Certainly, one for the live shows. My head was rocking all the way through.
If I’m honest, I’ve been looking for an opportunity to say openly what I think after the team at Über Rock was reminded that we should tell it exactly how it is. There’s nothing to criticise here. I’m impressed. It’s an amazing first release. If you’re looking for some fresh blood you could do a lot worse than giving Jet Fuel Chemistry a listen. ‘Sign Of The Times’ is fresh new metal. Meaningful, well produced and full of energy.
- ‘Sign Of The Times’ is released tomorrow (Friday 7 August). You can get your copy HERE.
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