[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/209190221″ params=”color=000000&inverse=false&auto_play=false&show_user=true” width=”100%” height=”20″ iframe=”true” /]
There are two things made abundantly clear on hearing How To Harken Back. Firstly, YEEVS are talented as fuck. And secondly, it’s criminal that these guys aren’t yet as widely known as they should be. Profanities and industry politics aside, after a year of teasing, YEEVS are finally ready to release their debut EP.
Sydney favourites YEEVS have finally released their debut EP How To Harken Back, and it proves beyond a doubt this is one of Australia’s finest young bands.
The Sydney three piece have been hard at work since forming last year, and as anyone who has seen them live can attest, they know how to dial it up past 11. There are many who would claim rock music is dead, but proof of the genre’s salvation can be found in an EP like How To Harken Back. It’s an amalgamation of punk, garage and a pinch of shoegaze which keeps each track fresh and the EP overall a varied beast to experience. It’s just guitar, bass drums and Bradley Cork’s rich vocals.
Sometimes he sighs, other times he grits his teeth and snarls, and he even manages to howl familiar to Gareth Liddard of The Drones. Thousand Yard Stare sees him truly fly, Cork displaying the full range of his vocal ability with a despondent charm which drives the track from its humble beginnings to its ragged crescendo. It’s the earnestness in his vocals and lyrics that really elevate How To Harken Back from a good EP to a great one.
First single Cycle As The Deal Goes Down was the first taste of the EP, and did a great job of laying the foundation for what to expect; tales of youth and acknowledging the past whilst staring at a murky future played to those distinct vocals and frantic music. The rest of the EP isn’t as manic on the surface as Cycle is, but that same energy is prevalent throughout.
The most interesting thing about How To Harken Back is the band’s willingness to break the mould and explore new territory. The playful pop sounds form their early releases is not entirely forgotten, but remain an echo as they play host to a range of new sounds. The bass line at the end of Novocaine does so with ease, it just pops up in the final act of the of the track and drives it home. Meanwhile opener Rebound sees the band expand their sonic horizons with some massive guitar parts and ace layered vocals. It stands as an epic welcome to the EP.
YEEVS have outdone themselves on How To Harken Back, an EP marked by personal growth and genuine passion. The boys have been a popular fixture of the local Sydney scene for some time now, but after this it wouldn’t be surprising to see them take off, and heck, perhaps the rest of the world will cotton on to how good these guys are.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/209190221″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
