Saturday 15 December 2018

57 Down - S/T (EP Review)


Release date: December 11th 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

57 Down – S/T – Tracklisting

1.Crown of Thorns 06:04
2.Sisters of the Valley 03:30
3.EyeSaw 03:21
4.Stockholm Calling 03:16

Members

Matt Chapman - Bass
Billy Law-Bregan - Bass
Johnny Mittens - Vocals
Daryl Hocking - Drums

Review

I originally featured 57 Down on the blog earlier this year when I featured them as a band to look out for. Well the band are here to deliver on that statement with their self-titled debut EP. The EP is a mixture of Grunge and Stoner Rock and draws influences from Alice In Chains and Clutch in parts. I was expecting this EP to be a lot heavier but 57 Down have still delivered a hard-rocking and highly confident release.

Opening song – Crown Of Thorns – is an old-fashioned Grunge/Stoner Rock number with a soulful psychedelic groove holding everything together. The vocals from Johnny have a nineties alternative rock/metal feel to them and they match the music superbly well. The song is not what you call flat-out Stoner Rock. However this allows 57 Down to play different styles of Hard Rock.

Second song – Sisters Of The Valley – is a more straight-forward song with the band having less time to play with compared to the opening song. Though the song does take time to fully get going but the vocals are perhaps the best part of the song. Lead singer Johnny relishes his role here and perhaps puts his best vocal performance on the EP. The song does have some of the heaviest moments on the EP and they’re quite exciting to hear at times.

Third Song – EyeSaw – is the standout song on the EP as the song opens with a classic and jagged Hard Rock sound that soon gives way to 57 Down grizzled Grunge/Stoner Rock sound. The psychedelic vibes keeps the mood vibrant and leaves you wanting more. The band even manage to find time to include some heavy pounding NWOBHM sounds. As the song has a harsher sound compared to the other songs on the EP.

Fourth Song – Stockholm Calling – is perhaps the most “rocking” song on the EP. I mean it’s perhaps the song that the band would use to open a set with and get the crowd pumped up to rock out to or start a mini-moshpit. The song is quite catchy and has a rebellious feel to it.

The production on the EP is good and you can feel the raw energy coming from the band’s music. Though it would have been better if some parts of the EP had more volume to it. As it can be too quiet for its own good. Maybe with future releases 57 Down will sound heavier and more dynamic as a result. 

However this hasn’t stopped the band releasing a strong and hugely entertaining record that will hopefully get them noticed within the UK Hard Rock/Grunge/Stoner Rock scene. As I do want to hear what the guys can do on a longer record.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp