Labels: self released
Review by: Andy Malcolm
This turned up in the mail the other day with a small note mentioning how it featured ex-members of Babies 3 and that they were looking for someone to put out their record. I am always a bit wary of bands who are looking to get someone to put out their record as I am a big advocate of DIY, if you think your stuff is any good then get it out there. Anyway, the CD stayed buried under assorted other CD’s for a while until I found it on the floor today. So I figured I would give it a listen, the Babies 3 connection intrigued me. And I stuck it on, and there was a long intro and it sounded pretty cool. And then the songs kicked in and man a fucking live. Did Policy of 3 reform and move to Kent? Heh, maybe not quite but this is a pretty similar sound, although with a bit more of a modern crunch to the proceedings. And they do sound kind of grungey from time to time. But by crimminy, the vocals are almost an exact replica – being desperately shouty/sung and occasionally slipping into more melodic moany parts and talky bits. So straight away I was on the back foot there, I wasn’t expecting that at all. I proceeded to listen to 5 tracks of some of the best emo that I have heard from a UK band in a ridiculously long time. This CD is just gold if you are into that style. Candy Sniper make their mid 90’s style stuff with strong vocals, and rampant guitars and drums that drive the music without relent. The third song in particular is emo as fuck, it has a killer breakdown before coming back into a total rock out that makes we want to spazz and roll on the floor – one of those amazing moments where bass-guitar-vocals-drums all combine at once to kill me to bits. I really have no idea if that’s the sound they were going for, but who cares? It works for me!
I don’t have anything to add other than the fact that this blew me away. I wish I had their contact details still (I lost them!) so I could implore you to get in touch and check this out. Shit. Good work chaps.
PS – i just found that their e-mail address is written on the CD. d’oh