The Breakdown
Following a string of high octane, brilliantly put together singles, Birmingham Quartet The Silver Lines unveil the full new ‘…And The Lord Don’t Think I Can Handle It’.
Opening with a snarling yet swaggering “Hello, Hello, Hello”, the EP’s opening track ‘Roaches’, The Silver Lines waste no time getting straight into their explosive post-punk-come-alternative-rock sound as a wall of punching drums, distorted guitar and driving bass enters. High-octane musicality and a raucous sense of energy beneath at times witty, and others pointed and scathing social commentary, the track captures the essence of the bands sound. Highlighting a 70s rock influence in the chorus through it’s chord progression the track continues to build throughout before reaching a frenzied guitar solo at the tracks close.
The Ep’s stand out track ‘Cocaine’ truly captures the nature of the bands infectious live sound on a soundscape which carries intensity and energy through its almost completely 1 chord song structure. Tongue-in-cheek lyricism which feels like it is made to be deliberately abrasive and shocking atop a fuzzy, visceral soundscape of driving, tightly locked guitar, bass and drums, it’s simple yet exciting, minbimal yet massive and anthemic.
This is what is so brilliant about the EP as a whole, the tracks manage to captivate despite relying on simplistic production and a minimal arrangements.
Elsewhere across the EPs five tracks ‘Watch Yourself Boy’ delivers an infectious, chant-able chorus whilst ‘Bound’ brings a different tone, relying on a more indie-rock approach with lighter guitar tones and a more melodic chorus which contrasts against the spoken, half shouted vocals across the rest of the EP.
Closing the EP, Tame is another radiant example of the bands ability to deliver songs which are at once catchy and repeatable being built around delivering visceral, spoken word vocals rather than conventional catchy melodies. Fittingly explosive ending with a long, sprawling guitar led instrumental, the EP ends on a high, ending with a ring of feedback reminiscent of the ringing ears at the end of a Silver Lines live show.
Explosive, daringly direct and true to their live sound, the EP is 5 tracks of high energy rich alternative rock musicality topped with some witty, pointed and expressive social commentary. Be it a jokey exploration of a rockstar lifestyle or a breakdown of modern humanity, the EP showcases the strongest and boldest work to date.
Listen below:
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