Monday 6 January 2020

TRAPS - The Fighter (EP Review)


Release date: January 10th 2020. Label: Halfmeltedbrain Records. Format: CD/DD

The Fighter - Tracklisting

Cowboy
Cyborg
The Count

Members

Mr Traps - Drums/Vocals/Noise
Mrs Traps - Guitar/Vocals/Noise

Review

TRAPS aka The Red And Purple Songs is the new band featuring Chainy and Max from acclaimed Sludge/Doom Rockers – OHHMS. TRAPS is very different to OHHMS as this band plays a hybrid style Post-Hardcore/Noise Rock/Math-Rock with a Progressive Rock edge.

Their debut EP – The Fighter – is very offbeat and surreal in places with TRAPS playing music that’s influenced by The Fall Of Troy, At The Drive-In and The Mas Volta. The band revel in their progressive and experimental attitude on each of the 3 songs on offer here. It can be quite confusing in places but that’s down to the different styles of music TRAPS have included on each of the individual songs.

Opening song – Cowboy – Quick musical beats are merged with Trippy Electronic Sounds before speeding upto a frantic style of Prog Rock/Metal. The vocals are quite good for the majority of the song but it’s the insane experimental Post-Hardcore grooves that TRAPS impressed me the most. I was expecting to hear something that OHHMS are known for on this release. However, Chainy and Max keep away from their other band and focus on being TRAPS.

Second song – Cyborg – is the standout song. As it has a more dynamic and powerful sound that allows TRAPS to bring more riffs to the party. The music is still experimental but this is more directed and focused that offers an intelligent style of Doom/Sludge Metal weirdness but with a Punk Rock attitude to it all.

The final song – The Count – opens with a gloomy electronic sound that brings a sense of Doom to the EP but settles down to a more settled Post-Hardcore atmosphere. The lyrics and vocals are quite surreal but offer a sense of harsh reality to TRAPS overall sound.

The Fighter is a great sounding EP packed full of intelligent sounds and ideas that deserve multiple repeated listens. I don’t know how TRAPS would transition to a full length album but I’m quite excited to hear that if they have future plans for a full length album.

Overall, The Fighter is one highly original EP that takes no prisoners whilst offering an exciting style of music that leaves you wanting more.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Chris at FRENCHIE PR for the promo. The Fighter will be available to buy on CD/DD via Halfmeltedbrain Records from Jan 10th 2020.

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