Saturday 20 January 2024

Gutterblood - Hard Gandhi (EP Review)

Release Date: 01st January 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Hand Gandhi - Tracklisting

1.Hard Gandhi 06:55 

2.Gardyloo 02:37 

3.Mr X (remastered) 06:16 

4.Old Town Young Team (remastered) 01:37


Review


Hand Gandhi is the new EP from Scottish Punk/Doom/Stoner Rockers Gutterblood. Gutterblood are joined by guest vocalist Tom McFadyen for this release who brings a subtle Post-Punk/Gothic Rock energy and charm to this EP. The meaning of the band’s name Gutterblood is by Scottish definition: 'A low person of inferior breeding. One who's blood has run in no cleaner canal than the gutter. One of the rabble'.


The EP is quite politically charged and experimental which follows a similar path to their excellent 2021 debut full length album. The songs don’t shy away from Political undertones of modern day society when spliced with aggressive Punk fuelled Doom/Stoner Metal that is played with jagged purpose and menace. There’s a jazzy Psych Rock attitude which matches the spiky Scottish based lyrics with the vocals promptly being Spoken Word. 


Hard Gandhi is the type of release that could only come from the underground scene as Gutterblood take aim at a wide range of multiple targets within the short running time of the EP. However, Gutterblood and Tom McFadyen always have something interesting to say though the music is a constant breath of fresh air with how they play a cool sounding blend of “STOP & START” movements within the dark melodies contained on each of the tracks.


Standout tracks are Hard Gandhi and Gardyloo with outstanding moments of bleak humour being included at the right time. Perhaps inspired by Irvine Welsh and Ian Rankin with their hard-hitting slices of Scottish life which I applaud everyone for including. 


Hard Gandhi does have some wicked Psych Rock moments on the later stages of the EP on tracks such as Mr X and Old Town Young Team. Both tracks show a different side to Gutterblood before they return to their Doomed Out world.


Overall, this is a great EP that has a lot of important things to say but one that also delivers great amounts of instrumental sounds that leave you wanting to hear more.


Excellent and Highly Recommended.


Words by Steve Howe 


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