If you have caught the quartet live you will know they have slotted in well amongst amidst stalwarts of the noisier and abrasive side of the U.K. scene such The St.Pierre Snake Invasion, Cassels and others of their ilk. Plus with Alpha Male Tea Party’s Tom Peters in tow to record them this is already hyped up to be an interesting listen even before clicking play.
‘Come Undone’ soon proves that point with every element seemingly working on separate plains yet harmoniously. Stuttering drums, bass and guitar intertwining with a push and pull, overlaid with beautiful vocals. All coming together to a crescendo with a soaring guitar part. Distilling and boiling over as it progresses and nothing short of a vast statement of intent from the Norwich band.
Lead single ‘Bullets’ is technical and brutal in delivery. Groove-laden verses lead into red raw vocals in the chorus. The lead guitar almost arrogant in how established it sounds over a rhythm section that is complex yet tightly woven. ‘Pig’ continues with an instrumental onslaught. The energy keeps pummelling throughout flipping between head banging riffage, guitar licks and momentary discreet breaks.
However, it is not all ear drum battering in delivery. ‘Winter Takes Its Toll’ is a sweet delight. A lighter math-rock touch with clean guitars under pins soothing vocals. Showing off that Eat Your Own Head are no one-trick pony.
‘Poltergeist’ is warm yet heavy with its guitars and vocals swaying between Black Midi and Black Peaks styles which in essence what EYOH do best on this album. From mind-winding breakdowns and intensity on ‘Malice Practice’ and closer ‘Ankh’ you do not know where each track is going or the eventual destination. Hints of jazz crossed with alt-rock of Queens of the Stone Age in ‘Poison’ this record manages to cram so many styles yet not feel overcrowded or forced.
If this all-sounds overkill, there are much needed breaks from tempo changes in tracks like ‘Denied’. An infectious groove, head-swaying vocals that could be a mainstream radio hit. ‘The Concrete of Moulded Men’ feels like an unknown alt-rock classic off the bat with sing along vocal lines and a breakdown which would be welcome on a festival stage as it surges again and again.
Keep an eye on where Eat Your Own Head play next as they are well worth the ticket price. In the meantime, sit with this record, try and digest what in darnation is going on but enjoy what they have to offer as it is engrossing and enjoyable in almost every moment.