Anyone fancy a sloppy gang bang?
That’s what Vendetta Love’s singer Shawn Mullen reckons “I Am” offers. “Maybe ‘Cause and Effect : Frustration and Release’ is the main motivator, lyrically. The common denominator. but, really, I think it’s more like a sloppy gang-bang.” He reckons.
I’ll be honest, I read those words and looked at the name of the band and assumed that what would be on offer from these five tracks was going to be some 80’s rehash. Some sub-Dangerous Toys thing where everyone wore Spandex.
You know what happens when you assume, though, don’t you? An Irish band comes along and makes a wonderful EP, that’s what.
“Hush Hush” pops in with a bit of gravitas, depth, and enigmatic lyrics. But it’s the one that best convinces that the four piece are a serious deal. “Society won’t let you in, so you move out” offers Mullen and immediately casting them as outsiders is cool – except these are mighty slabs of intent.
Somewhere in the sweet spot between The Almighty circa “Powertrippin’” and Seether’s arena ready stuff, this sounds incredible. “Ode” though, beats with a rock n roll heart. Bass from Neil McEvoy underpins it, and Mullen along with Chris Craig rips out the riffs and solos.
If that one races like the theme song to a Hells Angels chapter’s next three day bender, then it’s not typical of the others. “Chains N All” chugs – again you suspect for the forgotten – the anger comes through here and my, how the guitar solo screeches.
This is a band with plenty to say, and there’s a real statement in “Walk Alone”, which builds so pleasingly, there’s a desperation in the words (it deals with the fall out of substance abuse) that’s matched by the music just so perfectly. Think Stone Temple Pilots at their best and you’d be somewhere close.
The title track is the heaviest of the lot. NOLA rather than Ireland maybe, sludge from The Shannon, but the vibe is has a Down feel, for sure. “Are we sacred? Are we pure?” goes the line before the solo (and what a solo it is!) and the answer is no, we aren’t.
That all being said, though. Look at the bands I’ve mentioned in this review. Some of my favourites, and you’d best believe that “I Am” belongs in that rarefied company. A quite stunning EP. And it leaves just one question. If you listen to it repeatedly, is that sloppy seconds? Ponder that, because this deserves your time.
Rating 9/10
