Labels: self released
Review by: Kunal Nandi
“When Larry Met Rita” goes off like a fucking firework in your face. A crash of slammed percussion and busted strings before it snaps into a tight bout of guitar scree, pounding drums and intense yelling, this is as rousing a 90-second call to arms as you’d expect to get from a young Midlands-based band (the poor bastards are from Coventry, or possibly Nuneaton. Either way, bad luck chaps). They take their cues from the more popular form of modern straight-up hardcore that is doing the rounds right now and temper it with some wilfully experimental Jesus Lizard-esque noisiness, waltz-time passages and choice Botch-like shifts in song arrangements. I’m not so hot on it when there are clean guitar breaks, or when there’s too much in the way of an epic build-up, but I’m just in an impatient mood right now, and I’m sure the variety will be much-welcomed in the long-term. The musicianship is highly proficient “” a rock-solid rhythm section, interesting guitar lines, well roared vocals “” yet they’re efficient and not overtly showy. The production is very nicely executed considering it’s a demo and all in all it’s a simply but effectively presented little record. Look out for a 7″ and UK tour later on this year. I’m looking forward to both!