Raw Power may be something espoused by The Stooges in the early ’70s but Canadian upstarts NOBRO are here to show that punk’n’roll is definitely alive and kicking with their latest EP. With an attitude in the spirit of Joan Jett in her ‘Bad Reputation’ era, the Montreal quartet show more than a modicum of self-assuredness that belies their relatively low output to date in creating something that would fit perfectly alongside the likes of Kathleen Hanna in the early riot grrrl movement.
One thing that strikes me quite quickly is their use of harmony for vocals in a manner that sits away from what you would think of with old school punk rock – a big reason why I’d consider it more amongst the usually more Scandinavian punk’n’roll feel than other modern punk artists like Amyl & The Sniffers, The Chats or the like. Musically, there is a fierce pace about most of the EP, an insistence on grabbing you by the ear, throat or whatever appendage you may choose and making you listen to their message.
The vocals vary between the more agitated shout you would expect in the punk scene to at times a rather serene take instead, with EP opener ‘Better Each Day’ a prime example of this, with a slow, almost gospel, intro leading into something quite different from that. Contrast that to the first single released from this EP, ‘Eat Slay Chardonnay’ and you have one of the longest songs against the shortest – a sharp, punchy track with a harmony-drenched chorus and riffs to make a 70s guitarist cry with joy – quite the difference without either feeling too far away from the other, somehow.
The sheer spirit and attitude are infectious and that is something you just cannot get past. Whether it’s either of the singles, the rather more downtuned ‘Not Myself’ – a track which sounds much closer to the earlier mentioned Joan Jett or EP closer and acoustic track ‘Life Is A Voyage’, there is a real definition of their sound despite the several different spins that this EP alone takes on it.
In short, the attitude may be pissed off – at others, at themselves or at society in general – but the message is clear – the talented act are not here to take prisoners – just rock your world. There is plenty of fun in the lyrics, some quite tongue-in-cheek humour while still looking at some subjects others might not touch. It follows on well from their previous EPs but feels more generally rounded than the previous work and would serve as an excellent introduction to the act.
- ‘Live Your Truth Shred Some Gnar’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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