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http://www.bigrockcandymountain.info/The problem with being handed anything to review whilst drinking in a Dublin pub, is that the chances are; you'll stumble home, put it somewhere then promptly forget where you put it. This will undoubtedly lead to several trashings of both your home and office before you find whatever it is you were supposed to review.
This is why it has taken so very long to review this year's new EP release by the Irish Melodic Hardcore group, 20 Bulls Each (20BE). To the 20BE member who had the faith and generosity to shove a fresh and unopened EP into my hand in the bowels of the drunken vortex that is 'The Foggy Dew'. I apologize for the delay.
While I am no expert, Ireland as a whole, has a fine history in producing some of the best Punk music you're likely to find. Granted, most of the Punks on the scene have a level of self-deprecating modesty that if you try and tell them that. They'll most likely respond with a sneer and the assertion that they are indeed"Shite really, but, thanks anyway." If you take away our Traditional music, it can be hard to find soul and quality within the shadows of bloated lumbering giants like Enya.
Granted, we did produce My Bloody Valentine, apparently now the loudest band in the world and arguably of those that "made it", the best. Sure, we have U2 preaching to the choir while moving their money quietly into tax havens and away from the Irish people. But, I'd be happy to concede U2's nationality to their legions of French, Spanish and Portuguese fans. Charity starts at home Bono. We also have a staggering legion of singer/songwriters blithering out the same bland shit muddled in with the odd Bob Dylan cover. You may also fall asleep scouring the Indie and Alternative scene in Ireland trying to find anything worth while.
It is worth scouring though; the underground scene is alive and well; a bitter pus filled DIY heart foot pumped by older and newer legends like The Klingonz, Blood or Whiskey and Paranoid Visions. Whilst the brain is kept ticking by youth struggling against a national radio that'd rather give repeated air time to some perfect pitch droid singing about fucking umbrellas than viciously pump our own vibrant music scenes.
With a gestation that began in Dublin in 2001, 20BE would come together properly early in 2002. They would release demos and single tracks on the Internet before releasing their first six track EP 'Make Your Stand' in 2004. In 2005, 'Holy Fuck' a split CD with the Northern Irish Punk band Mellow Dramatic would be released. To be promptly followed the next year by their first album 'Lost Causes'.
With two feet firmly planted in the Irish DIY ethic of "Fuck it, if we don't do it ourselves, it'll never get done." 20BE have suffered the common problem of rotating bass players with a solid line-up in the three founding members; Gareth Cummins (guitars and vocals) Gavin Husselbury (guitar) and Paul Duffy (drums). This new EP sees the now longest standing bassist (and engineer from 'Lost Causes') Ziron joining them to complete a very healthy line-up.
'The Incompetence To Follow' is the first I've heard of 20BE and I'm happy to say it reminds me of and in my mind joins the pantheon of such Irish acts like Striknien DC, Cold War, Black Belt Jones and Eyesclosed. With five tracks that manage to cohesively blend elements of Punk, Metal and Melodic Hardcore. 'The Incompetence To Follow' rumbles open with slightly hollow yet instantly catchy metal guitars before steadily thumping up the gears into an absolutely cracking song. Possibly the best compliment I can pay it, is that the vocals remind me of Garm's (Ulver) from 'Nattens Madrigal' except turned up and there stronger and more prominent in the mix.
Over all and even without the catchy choruses, the EP has a grab you by the scruff of the neck Hardcore appeal to it that almost forces you to stop and try memorize the words. If only so you can clench that fist and sing along. Which, though I have to admit might be endemic to Irish music, is a great quality to have and really serves to push this release over the usual and mundane releases in the same genres.
I'm finding it quite hard to pick a favorite or even a stand-out track from the five as all are extremely solid. But I think the foot stomping 'Leave You Screaming' might just have it the vaguely golden age Misfits reminiscent 'Down'.
Don't be put off by 20 Bulls Each's hardcore label (if that's not your thing). They are, so much more than that and with the scheduled release of their entire discography through SNS records in 2009. I'm thinking that they haven't even neared the peak of their powers.
I'm told to catch them live and I intend to. Either way, look them up, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised and glad for it.