EP: The Heat Inc – The Heat Inc

The Breakdown

The Heat Inc play the kind of music which is meant to be enjoyed live. This EP is a buzz with an attitude and swagger which is not only addictive but feels very much needed these days. It's a simple EP of 5 great songs, well played, and with an extra sparkle which helps these guys have an edge over other bands.

– 8.0

Describing themselves as a “rock and roll band but only all the time”, The Heat Inc. recorded the EP at RYP
Recording Studios in North West London, with Michael Smith (Elvis Costello) producing.

‘Down In The City’ is a raucous celebration of music. The heavy drum beat catchy guitar and vocals full of swagger have always been an addictive combination. The track sets this EP off to a good start and is the perfect track to go along with their ambition of wanting “to get back to playing loud, dark, packed gigs in tiny venues to about fifty
people and we want to share our noise with every single body there.”

The swagger is carried over onto track 2. ‘Raptor’ has a great garage band atmosphere with a thumbing great slab of rock n roll to get lost in. Something the EP is not short of with the band sounding hugely confident delivering some fantastic hooks along the way. The track has a screaming solo to end with a group vocal chant ready for an live audience to shout right back.

‘Sammy Swing’ brings things to a slow pace with a soulful intro and a melodic verse that struts rather than swaggers but allows Jon Dodd to open the lungs and belt out a great vocal performance resulting in a highlight of the EP. The track rolls through the biography of said Sammy with a superb musical

‘Polaroid’ throws all the punches and welcomes a harder rock led by a strong bass with swirling backing vocals to Dodd’s vocal exertions. He spits the verses out with an intensity matched by Maurizio Vitale brilliantly heavy handed drumming. A solid song

There is a lot to be said for leaving the best to last and with ‘Your After Love Song’ the band have done just that. It takes all the best bits of the previous and leaves a masterpiece of brooding rock. The band lay it down thick so you can be excused for forgetting this is only a four piece band. Marco Simoncelli showing how dipping in and out with short melodic phrases can really make a track. Something he does a great job of throughout this EP.

The band haven’t done anything new here but it’s not needed. They play the kind of music which is meant to be enjoyed live. This EP is a buzz with an attitude and swagger which is not only addictive but feels very much needed these days. It’s a simple EP of 5 great songs, well played, and with an extra sparkle which helps these guys have an edge over other bands.

Check out the video for the single Your After Love Song, below: