More cowbell! is the famed cry. Actually, the title track which leads off this six-track sophomore EP by Dartford trio Tailblock probably has all the cowbell you’ll need all year. But despite that, it’s surprisingly unshit. Yes, it’s accessible, but the guitars are big and driving. What’s more, while they’re pitched as sitting alongside Reuben, Hundred Reasons, and Rival Schools, there’s something older about their sound, which sees them harness the kind of melodic metal-edged grunginess of Bivouac and Therapy? circa ‘Troublegum’.
‘Rocket’ even brings the jangle of The Wedding Present around the time of ‘Seamonsters’ aired with the roar of Biffy Clyro, and the angular, jarring ‘Blisters’ is twitchy, with a churning bass underneath the choppy guitar. ‘Listen’ is slower, and exploits the quiet / loud dynamic – which I’m a sucker for anyway – with panache.
It’s got passion and power, emotion and guts, and it’s not bad at all.