Wow. To think this band were unsigned until a few months ago is an outrage. To think they’ve only shifted 2,000 copies of this self-released EP is even worse. Thankfully the Death Scene recognised the band’s talent and snapped them up and a new EP is set to hit the shelves any day now. Trophy Scars seem to have the ability to be a different band on about seven different occasions. IN EVERY SINGLE SONG. Gone is the bog-standard verse/chorus/verse bore-a-thon which many bands adopt, as the band take on the Blood Brothers and throw a variety of other bands into the melting pot to create some kind of special sound that I really can’t say enough good things about.
After starting with the mellow, piano-led ‘There Are Ghosts’ – which could be some kind of Bright Eyes outtake or something – the band launch headfirst into the amazing ‘Designed Like Dice (Crickets in Tune)’, which stutters and stop-starts through a series of handclaps, vocal harmonies and staccato snares. There’s even a section of the verse that comes complete with “ba ba’s” which sounds absolutely incredible. This song especially is very Blood Brothers-esque, although maybe without the high-pitched squeal. Exctingly unpredictible, it’s a song I’ve managed to keep on repeat and still not get bored of.
Throw in screams of rage during ‘…And That’s Where They Found My Body’ and you’d expect to have yet another cliche ridden post-hardcore band simply messing with time signatures in an attempt to be vaguely interesting. But Trophy Scars do the odd things and they do them well. During the aforementioned track, they suddenly chuck in an undercurrent of jazz and keyboards, creating a dancey-vibe that will certainly get you moving. I’ve criticised a number of bands recently for not being original enough or for being inventive with their song structures, but Trophy Scars are hands down the best thing I’ve heard in ages. I can’t wait to hear more.
www.trophyscars.com
Paul