Labels: Common Thread
Review by: Alex Hannan
I saw HOWL in July last year not long after this was recorded and caught a similar snapshot of a band still rough around the edges, having a laugh and having a say, without fussing about the details too much. I enjoyed that evening and am happy to see some tunes out. They’ve produced a set of mid-paced hardcore with quite a posi-core vibe about it – simple, chunky, power-chord riffs, lyrics on constructive themes (realising potential, keeping on fighting) as well as critical (an oppressive “they” or “them” mentioned in 4 of the 5 songs, the protagonist in “Sick of your attitude.”)
Listening through, I was surprised that “Not stunned into silence” was placed first, since it’s the least well delivered, problems with uneven fills making the joins a bit clunky – and this isn’t a very forgiving style of that kind of thing. The uncertainty of the rest of the band of when they can jump in at the end of the intro is almost audible. The other four tracks flow better for me – “Between the lines” and “Live in our times” being my highlights, with some effective fingerpointable choruses.
It comes in a neat little package from Common Thread records with cover art of a riot in Paris (at a guess, the 68 student riots, which would match what looks like a bit of Situationist influence in the lyrics…). The insert with the cartoon wolf in summer punk attire howling at the moon is very cute, too… I imagine that in the 7 months since this recording HOWL will be a different beast already and look forward to checking them out again, preferably in Sheffield’s great Audacious Space.