Praised by Steve Ignorant and working with producers who have collaborated with Steve Albini (with “Four Songs” mastered by Bob Weston of Shellac), this EP was never designed for your chill-out playlist.
Indeed, it’s as direct as its title.
The opening riff to “25 Cameras” makes good on its promise to capture the claustrophobic nature of being watched, perfectly reflecting the Orwellian world of 2025.
Not necessarily a political band (although they share a label with Bob Vylan), the beauty here is in the energy and passion.
“I don’t wanna have this conversation,” spits Ike McCormick on “Goodbye Pop Culture” — but this is a long way from pop. Guitars like barbed wire rip and tear.
“In It For The Money (So La Ti Do)” slows the pace, yet adds more menace — just listen to the bass breakdown from Carys Williams. It dares you to take it on.
“Watch” returns to the cacophony of noise that permeates the EP. Melody, à la The Wildhearts circa “Endless Nameless,” is present but buried deep. This is the work of a band for whom art and music are paramount.
And the closing beatdown makes it clear — although it already had been — that it doesn’t matter whether you like it or not: Club Brat are coming.
In the summer of 2024, my social media was full of people wittering about “brat summer” for reasons I couldn’t understand (partly because I’m old, mostly because I couldn’t care less). Let’s give this London/Bristol-via-Peterborough mob the winter instead.
Far nastier. Far more fun.
Rating: 8/10
