So today I'm trying out something new. Recently I've been sent a few emails from bands with links to their EPs and albums asking me to review them, so I thought why not? Might as well give a little something back to the punk and hardcore community and try and promote some of the smaller bands out there. So here we go!
The first EP I shall be reviewing by request is the new split EP by British melodic punk/hardcore bands Godard and Like Home. The first half was mastered by the legend Pete Maher who has also mastered material by Nine Inch Nails , U2 and Depeche Mode just to name a few. In contrast, Like Home's half was mastered and recorded in a bedroom!
Kicking off this EP is Godard with the first two tracks, Carolyn Burnham Club and Santa Maria. Carolyn Burnham Club creeps in gradually with soft plucking building up into a coarse vocal introduction, reminiscent of Daylight or Hindsights, alternating and pleading, leading into a classic fast-paced melodic hardcore track. It is a clear EP opener with its attention grabbing introduction and its upbeat mid-section. The plucked guitar theme heard in the introduction and the coarse lyrics 'Stay there one more night...' is repeated throughout the song reeling me in by the hook. All in all, a great start with an incredibly well structured song. Santa Maria is a much more catchy and bouncy indie influenced number that's sure to bring in the sing-alongs. Again, this song was well produced and overall well written, with crescendos, diminuendos, small vocal and and instrumental interludes, but I did feel that the main 'My knuckles are red' theme was a little repetitive.
The second half of the EP features Like Home, a slightly punkier band from Hampshire. Their first track, entitled Drown, is uncannily like Title Fight, everything from the drumming to the vocals. It did make the lyrics 'We all sound the same' slightly ironic. That being said, I adore Title Fight so Drown was definitely a winner with me. It had everything from the raspy gang-vocals, to the calm interlude in the middle with the distorted solo guitar. Ernest Grace displays more aggression, and is lyrically wrenched from the heart: 'I swallowed my pride but it crawled back out me'. Though again, it's very similar to Title Fight!
Overall, this album was obviously incredibly well mastered, very professional and sounds great, despite half of it being recorded in a bedroom. Though if any bad comment could be made is that it may have been a tad repetitive and wouldn't have worked over a whole album and it's been done before by bands like Basement and Title Fight. But if you are a fan of Basement and Title Fight, you will DEFINITELY like this EP, and with Basement (sadly) gone, Godard look set to step in behind them at take the role as the new British melodic hardcore/punk band. I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot of them on the bill at future hardcore and punk shows.
(7/10)
If anyone fancies a listen themselves here is the link: http://dstmpromotions.bandcamp.com/album/godard-like-home-split
They've also released their split on cassette.
The first EP I shall be reviewing by request is the new split EP by British melodic punk/hardcore bands Godard and Like Home. The first half was mastered by the legend Pete Maher who has also mastered material by Nine Inch Nails , U2 and Depeche Mode just to name a few. In contrast, Like Home's half was mastered and recorded in a bedroom!
Kicking off this EP is Godard with the first two tracks, Carolyn Burnham Club and Santa Maria. Carolyn Burnham Club creeps in gradually with soft plucking building up into a coarse vocal introduction, reminiscent of Daylight or Hindsights, alternating and pleading, leading into a classic fast-paced melodic hardcore track. It is a clear EP opener with its attention grabbing introduction and its upbeat mid-section. The plucked guitar theme heard in the introduction and the coarse lyrics 'Stay there one more night...' is repeated throughout the song reeling me in by the hook. All in all, a great start with an incredibly well structured song. Santa Maria is a much more catchy and bouncy indie influenced number that's sure to bring in the sing-alongs. Again, this song was well produced and overall well written, with crescendos, diminuendos, small vocal and and instrumental interludes, but I did feel that the main 'My knuckles are red' theme was a little repetitive.
The second half of the EP features Like Home, a slightly punkier band from Hampshire. Their first track, entitled Drown, is uncannily like Title Fight, everything from the drumming to the vocals. It did make the lyrics 'We all sound the same' slightly ironic. That being said, I adore Title Fight so Drown was definitely a winner with me. It had everything from the raspy gang-vocals, to the calm interlude in the middle with the distorted solo guitar. Ernest Grace displays more aggression, and is lyrically wrenched from the heart: 'I swallowed my pride but it crawled back out me'. Though again, it's very similar to Title Fight!
Overall, this album was obviously incredibly well mastered, very professional and sounds great, despite half of it being recorded in a bedroom. Though if any bad comment could be made is that it may have been a tad repetitive and wouldn't have worked over a whole album and it's been done before by bands like Basement and Title Fight. But if you are a fan of Basement and Title Fight, you will DEFINITELY like this EP, and with Basement (sadly) gone, Godard look set to step in behind them at take the role as the new British melodic hardcore/punk band. I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot of them on the bill at future hardcore and punk shows.
(7/10)
If anyone fancies a listen themselves here is the link: http://dstmpromotions.bandcamp.com/album/godard-like-home-split
They've also released their split on cassette.
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