They say football is a game of two halves, and it’s true, things go up and down, round and round from one end to another, it’s mad, but, music is also a game of two halves, it can move you to tears, but can also be the soundtrack to a few beers. Music has multiple sides and multiple uses, and yes it’s a beautiful game, a to and fro between audience and listener, song and soul, a trip or a journey from wherever it started to wherever it goes. Sometimes it can start badly and end well like a boring 0-0 with a 94th-minute goal, the type of screamer that Leeds seemed to do for all of last season which makes you forget about almost falling asleep. Well this EP is a loud and noisy 0-0 in the ultras stand, with a comfortable two banged in in the second half.
Some records and EPs you can literally hear the ‘side a’ and ‘side b’ break. The first half here is drug-riddled animosity spat through a pierced and infected lip, that oozes over acid guitar work and migraine volume mixes. If I’m honest, it isn’t my cuppa tea. I enjoy and have enjoyed Slaves but I am nowhere near a long time or dedicated “fan” (ah shit I’m that guy aren’t I now, fuck) therefore, the heaviness of some tracks does get lost on me. I mean I’m not into metal or screamo, but enjoy heavy rock when I’m feeling especially angsty, but this is more the former than the latter. It is heavy stuff, and my dainty ears aren’t accustomed to it clearly.
The second half, which on an EP usually includes some tracks that won’t make a final LP cut includes a piano song and a cowboy ballad. Now, these are more down my street really on paper, two decent tracks that step back from the volume knob and step up the songwriting. The cowboy tune gives me flashbacks to ‘Here Comes the Cowboy’, putting me off at first, but I enjoyed it during the third listen purely because my ears couldn’t stand the first two tracks again. Really the final track is the standout on the whole thing. ‘When Will I Learn’ is a tranquil and peaceful oasis after an ear wrenching storm. It’s touching and heartfelt, something that shows an impressive new direction for the band which I admired. Truthfully, without it, I’m not sure I could have finished this if I’m honest.
Haiku Review
“What? say it again?
Can’t hear you. My ears ringing,”
Ooo a piano,
