Hailing from Bridgend, this Welsh quartet are releasing their EP ‘Real Life Glories’ in October. Having given this the continuous play that it so richly deserves over the last few days, I’m hooked. Rarely does a bands name describe their music so perfectly, raw, no nonsense, straight up Rock ‘n’ Roll with a healthy dose of Punk and a nod to the Glam Rock era thrown in for good measure. It’s down and dirty, but also highly addictive!
The first track, ‘Bygone Boy’, sets the mood, both musically and lyrically. Despite the obvious Punk Rock influence to their sound, the lyrics are a complete departure from the teenage angst and rebellion traditionally associated with that scene. On the contrary, the lyrics throughout almost all of ‘Real Life Glories’ are refreshingly upbeat and laced with fun.
Track two, ‘This Ship Ain’t Going Down’, seems to be a full on, two fingered salute to anyone who is missing the point of what this band are all about. It’s melody laden and made for a sing-a-long.
Track three, ‘Bad Whiskey’, is a stonking, riff driven song that epitomises the underlying feeling of the EP. The lyrics, ‘We got bad, bad whiskey, so what we gonna do? We got a whole lot of woman trouble, so that bad, bad whiskey will do’, says it all in a very Nicotine Pretty way!
‘Over The Edge’ is the only song that lyrically is not upbeat. It’s about heartache and the loss of a relationship. However, musically, it’s as catchy and mosh worthy as any of the other tracks. Not an easy feat to achieve by any means, but it’s been supremely well done here. An extremely well crafted track that adds overall balance to the EP.
Track five is the signature song of the band, ‘Nicotine Pretty’, which sums them up and leaves no room for conjecture. It’s old school Rock ‘n’ Roll at it’s best, which says without compromise or apologies, “This is us, take it or leave it, but we’re here, loving it and changing for no one”.
The last song is, ‘Who’s Gonna Save My Soul’, which opens up into soaring guitars and a drum track that grabs you by the scruff of the neck and drags you along for the ride. With another hugely catchy chorus, you can’t help but be drawn in by this one.
In summary, this is a brilliant EP from a band completely comfortable and totally aware of who they are and what they’re about. They absolutely know their strengths, which are on full display on ‘Real Life Glories’. Their sing-a-long songs are packed with more hooks than an anglers convention. They’ve hit a winning formula here and it’s very easy to imagine having a cracking night out watching these guys and singing yourself hoarse into the bargain. They are, without doubt, Nicotine Pretty and highly recommended!
Standout tracks: Bad Whisky, Who’s Gonna Save My Soul
Band Members:
Ginge Knievil - Vocals/Guitar.
Lewis Elliot Davies - Vocals/Guitar.
Ian Pickens - Bass.
Richie Phillips - Drums.
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Pete Moore
Contributor
