Six Machine, Various Artists
Big Scary Monsters records are at it again, trying to raise the bar for UK releases. This compilation is the product of an international competition, which involved hundreds of bands entering a competition to get on this 10” EP, finally being whittled down to the 6 bands we have here, after a public vote.
Unsurprisingly, this process has provided us with some pretty ‘current’ sounding bands. If you are a fan of Cock Sparrer or Hard Skin, the chances are this is your kind of hell. If you are into Deep Elm bands and beards, this is right up your street.
The bands on offer range from the slightly dull to the very interesting indeed. The pick of the bunch for me are the last lot on there, Minotaur Explode. They remind me a lot of Million Dead – intense as hell. My only real complaint with some of the bands is that they seem to have no interest in writing lyrics that mean anything. This lot don’t suffer from that, and they give it some at the same time. Blakfish and The Defeat are definitely worth a look too.
The problem with releases like this is that you never have quite enough to go on to really say which bands are special. But, then, that is the point of a compilation I guess. Have a listen, see which aural avenues you will take the proverbial walk up.
Mike
