War After War is an amalgam of Manchester label APF’s talent comprising the rhythm section of Bongcauldron, Ben ‘Corky’ Corkhill (vocals/bass) and Jay Hope on drums as well as Lewis Atkinson (Nomad) on guitar. Bongcauldron went out on a high on the Bloodstock stage but subsequently decided to take an indeterminate break. However, Jay and Lewis got talking and War After War rose from the ashes. Just as well, as it sounds like the cans were about to be hawked on EBay or some other, clearly less well known, auction site.
The ‘No Change’ EP is a six-track taster of what the band is about, though it might not be what loyal fans of said prior projects expect. Sometimes one plus two does not equal three. For example, Nomad + Bongcauldron could equal No Bong or Mad Cauldron or more likely, given the ratios, Mad Bongcauldron and none of these equates to War After War. Well maybe the last one… Consider that prior efforts may not have had quite the attitude that the current outfit does. Their tagline basically describes the band as an opporchancity for three ‘settled, 30-something dickheads’ (their words not mine) to call these other dickheads to account. An opportunity then for some vitriol, nothing wrong with that. Sounds like punk to me.
The agitated, rattling intro to ‘Burned’ sounds like it’s racing to catch up with itself. It is impressive hardcore drumwork from Jay. A song about the need for people to read between the lines, heavy guitars express anger at the fact that the world is full of liars and empty of morals. You will fall victim to it, you will be let down. Suck it up, be prepared, hit back. If you haven’t got the message yet, short and to the point ‘You against You’ hammers it home. Fuck the negativity: “Stay hard, stay true” don’t let it get to you or its you against yourself.
‘No Change’ appears heavier with a metal edge. At 1.15 it breaks into a wonderful rhythmic aggressive section; you’re absolutely going to love it. Problem is it’s all over at 2.10. Set this one on repeat. For ‘Same Mistakes’ it’s Corky’s vocal delivery of the derisive lyrics that make it. Once again Jason’s work is jaw dropping and Lewis brings it all together, given that he is to be credited for the heavier sound. The three work so well together and I am beginning to love this EP.
‘Presence of Mind’ is thrashed out, garage punk, DIY disdain but by far the greatest animosity is saved for deliverance in ‘Ignorance’, the hardest track here. Available to stream since May on APF’s YouTube channel, it rages about the way power corrupts. There’s a different feel: it’s dark, justifying its place on APF’s ‘Sound of Heavy 2020’ compilation release.
So, clearly War After War are intricately talented, to the point, energetic dickheads but they’ve created a mini masterpiece here. They’ve changed and I’m just annoyed there’s not more than 6 tracks. Get on it guys. You told us not to settle, you told us to fight. Well take your own advice, this has got to be bigger than a side project, we need to hear this live. ‘No Change’ is available to pre-order now.
- ‘No Change’ is released on Friday (12 June). You can get your copy HERE.
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