The Grizzlies self-titled first EP is a fun-fuelled slice of old school punk rock. Short and sweet, The Grizzlies crash their way through each of their five songs like a band possessed. In fact, thereās even touches of maniacal laughter interweaved in both āOn the Roadā and āDramaā, giving the band a unhinged Gonzo feel that more than hints at an amazing live show.
āDramaā is the undoubted highlight of āThe Grizzliesā starting with a killer opening riff before moving between slow-sung verses and fast choruses, melting down into out-and-out hysterical screaming at some points. Itās chaotic and fun, with a touch of NOFX-style wry humour about it.
Lyrically, āThe Grizzliesā is filled with brilliantly placed touches such as āIād like to speak but the silence flows through meā in āAnd Iā and the deliciously catchy chant of āI want to but I canāt ever let it goā at the end of āM.G.ā Bursting with sing-along moments, itās hard not to get swept up in The Grizzlies storming anthems and at its finish itās impossible not to hit the replay button.
For a first effort this EP is pretty impressive, however there is also room for improvement. Some of the vocals are muddy and hard to understand, precariously treading the line between DIY and indecipherable.
Overall however this is a great initial release. With chunky riffs and a subtle nod to bands like Pulley and Pennywise, The Grizzlies provide a modern perspective based on a 90ās punk sound. While their sound isnāt quite unique enough to make them a great band, thereās plenty here for punk-rock aficionados to sink their claws into.
JAY SULLIVAN