Thursday, March 05, 2015

EP Review :: Never Young - Never Young




Never Young

Never Young

March 10 2015 (Father/Daughter Records)

8.5/10

Words: Linn Branson


Bay Area, California noise rockers Never Young are about to release their new self-titled EP, the follow-up to 2014's 'Master Copy'. Recorded at The Atomic Garden, the four-track record blends raw punk with 90s guitar sounds, and Never Young accomplish that very well indeed.

Never Young created enough of an impression in January with the first taster track by way of the storming 'Like A Version': full on rampacious energy, high octane decibels, punk yells and guitar lines to trip out to. The double vocals/guitar duo, Nikolas Soelter and Christopher Adams (joined live by Samuelito Cruz, drums, and Niko Escudero on bass) have worked with producer Jack Shirley (Deafheaven) on this new record, and on 'Ur A Front', in particular, comparisons can be made with a young Sonic Youth. The track's angular guitar riffs partner a wailing vocal, in a controlled three-and-a-half minute noise that holds tight on the reins - until the scream finale.

The two further tracks, the post-punk, guitar thrashing 'Spectacle Boy',  and the absolutely sumptuous 'Crigsaw' which complete the EP, highlight the pair's signature penchant for noisy feedback and jangly fretwork, while going hell-for-leather knocking out killer riffs. While the opener 'Like A Version' may have been the favourite of the tracks previously, on now hearing the fuzzy melodics of 'Crigsaw', that possibly has to change. Or it could be 'Spectacle Boy' - or even 'Ur A Front'. With an EP of four songs each as good as the other, it's hard to place them in preferential order. Not that it matters anyway. The only important thing after hearing this is: how long do we have to wait for a full album?





No comments:

Post a Comment