Proving that the dirty south is not just the bible belt states of America, SHALLOW WATERS storm through this four track EP with a haze of bourbon, amps and a whole lot of shit kicking.
Instant thoughts with opener ‘Gunslinger’ is memories of early Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster, which is great especially when it’s being executed so well but a little rigidly. Yeah there are all the harmonies, a suitably groove-locked rhythm guitar and some nice lead licks but it’s a bit of a shallow affair. However, prolonged listening could give you a trucker tan one would assume.
Final track ‘Beef Jerky’, although a little on the basic and repetitive side, sounds raw and chunky in an Every Time I Die vein and it’s in this track where the vocals are at their most aggressive. Unfortunately however it seems this track is a bit of an odd one out against the rest of the EP as it seems the most raw in production, which makes the rest either sound like a million dollars or completely rubbish depending on your sound values stance (mine is in the raw as hell camp).
It’s a solid effort, if a little unimaginative, however it does harness the power of groove that makes you want to stamp the shit out of a kick drum and scream “Yeehaw”. The only main gripe is that although ‘Southern’ rock exists outside of the USA, the temptation for vocalists to hit that Dallas Taylor-esque drawl is always there and unfortunately that’s where Shallow Waters fall down. You’re from Essex, not Alabama. It’s a petty gripe at best but one to be had with many UK bands who can’t seem to find good standing in their native tongue.
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