Everything Went Blacker,
John HolmesTo call Leeds four piece ‘John Holmes’ hardcore maybe a little far fetched. Granted they show a lot of the noise and compassion that many a hardcore band display, but there is ultimately something more ‘rock and roll’ about them. And I don’t mean rock and roll in a Status Quo kinda way. The kind of rock and roll where you drink beer and work yourself into a frenzy, which sums up John Holmes rather well.
After a couple of split records with Kainboy and Canvas and a debut LP by the name ‘El Louso Suavo’ things are starting to get interesting for the band a mere four years into their punk rock vision and a successful UK tour with Yank hardcore legends Converge certainly put them in good stead.
The likes of ‘Mama’ and ‘Get Up and Go’ are the perfect examples of how John Holmes work, as grinding guitar hooks and tight breakdowns are blended into the gritty vocals of front man Bri Holmes. Admittedly the music of John Holmes doesn’t stray to much from the benchmark they lay themselves, which at times can become a little tiresome and mundane, however this is a minor flaw and the fact they do it so well is a compliment to them. ‘Burn Baby, Burn’ is a slightly unadventurous effort although ‘Henrys Song’ is a sublime little ditty showing a keen eye for a silky bass line and some infectious catchy moments. ‘Me and You against the World’ does what it says on the tin and is a pissed off song at the world and ‘Threadbare’ is a personal highlight as the snappy lyrics prove a distinct highlight.
‘Easy Rider’ is a bit of a letdown and manages to lose itself amongst the other tracks on display, save for a tidy finish to the song. ‘Pray for Mojo’ has stayed with me since I first heard it and for some reason freaks me out as it conjures images of a savage dog while ‘Sweet Angel’ once again proves indifferent but thankfully ‘The Big Silence’ leaves a nice taste in your mouth on a rousing finale.
This could be one of the more under-rated released thus far of 2004 as John Holmes manage to build a bridge between hardcore security and punk rock edginess with ease and each of the ten songs on show are definitely growers. However although the music is strong, the lyrics sometimes lack a spark to really set the song off, but this is easily dismissed as everything else is above par. This could be a hidden gem for many music fans out there.
Jay
