Posted on July 20, 2010 - by Editor

EP Reviews: The Vermin Suicides/ Gunner’s Daughter/ The Speedogs

Yeahman! It’s…
The Vermin Suicides
Antipop Records

Starting off with the apt maniacal nah-nah nah-nahs this self proclaimed “bastard spawn of The Dead Class, 0898 and Dutch Porn Thursday” collective is the The Vermin Suicides. With the crazy wild eyed Anton le Verme on vocals and his crooning voice on EP opener ’State Of The Art’ with the chorus screeching “My heart a state of the art, don’t you rip it apart” creating a upbeat mood for the EP.  The second track ‘Banzai’ is a Japanese fused crazed song with creaking vocals and tight guitars whilst the offbeat singing style continues on’ No control’ although the sound is fun and unconventional, the high pitched crescendos on the chorus maintain the positive tone. The final song ‘Keep The Beat’ is a more conventional driving poppy but punk rock song , setting a faster pace but great sounding sing along song with a mid song guitar solo reinforced by the pounding but well kept drums of Tony T completing a infectious and positive EP from a band that has huge potential.

New Skeletons
Gunner’s Daughter

The Chicago five piece release their second EP “New Skeletons” which is being offered as a free digital download from their website.  There are five tracks on the EP and as the label says it’s definitely for fans of the Hot Water Music, although the vocals here are more Chris Wollard than Chuck Ragan. The rocking punk rock start with ‘Fence Jumper’ a driving uplifting opener before ‘Rusty Wheels’ which drops the mood a notch and the pace for this melodic song.  ‘Better Days’ ups the ante again but the comparisons to HWM are uncanny and in that lays the downside to the band, who don’t really manage to escape the sound of their influences. Some great intricate buzzing guitars and dual vocals to match but does Gunner’s Daughter carve up enough of its own identity or are they simply a band formed in the wake of others that have done it better? The final track is an acoustic ballady number with harmonica in tow; I think fans of the driving mid tempo punk rock might enjoy this, but I just can’t help feel I’ve heard it all before.

Life Has Teeth
The Speedogs

This four track EP is based on a 70s punk rock n roll hybrid of speed, intelligent lyrics and horror-punk imagery. With Caroline on lead vocals and bass the EP starts with the title track, which is a bitter sweet homage to a girl’s life gone by and filled with a sense of regret and remorse. Then ‘Waste Another Year’ starts with a great opening riff, and the song which has a simple structure and repeat chorus with buzzing guitars driving it along creates a catchy tune. ‘Electric’ starts faster and the imagery of monsters and the undead enforce their influences whilst the chorus again is catchy as hell. The final and short track, ‘Go’ has a similar pace to create some tight punk ‘n roll and round out a decent EP from a band that has some firmly planted roots but who’s sound will probably appeal to fans of old school punk.