Butcher In The Fog
Yanni from Butcher In The Fog recently dropped us a line to let us know about their self-titled EP, available on their bandcamp page. Presently, the band don’t have a bio so we’ll simply say they’re a London based three piece , interested in band scrabble nights, spelling bees, band cup-cake offs and outings to the aquarium. Now, this is all well and good, but I’m no closer to knowing anything about their music, so what’s on offer?
Opening with The Birds Of Black Death there’s an immediate launch into a world of melodic distortion, the music grabbing your attention and leading you along with them. Fast paced and urgent, the music itself is heavy without being over bearing or over the top, somehow managing to combine the key elements of rock n roll with a heavier approach, crafting a sound which is unique in its own right and can simply be termed ‘metal’, as that’s about as close as I can get! Whilst this is heavy and distorted, there’s also a sense of catchiness running through the music, allowing you to fully appreciate what they’re doing and get involved in the music. This strikes me as the sort of thing which is going to realise its full potential on the live scene, the recording just doesn’t seem to do it full justice. Urgent and at times, frantic, this opening track certainly suggests good things are to follow, a good opening to proceedings for sure!
Moving on to Rabbit Punch (interesting title!), the tone seems to change more towards a funky approach, layering the guitar over the bass to combine with the raspy vocal line. The mix is one which at times harks towards the likes of Primus or similar, adding in a sense of syncopation to the music whilst still crafting a track which is perfectly accessible to anyone listening to it. Personally, I really like this track and rate it highly on the EP, perhaps something to do with my love for the more prog style stuff where it doesn’t follow conventions! Title track Butcher In the Fog follows on next, this time returning us to a more conventional style and forming a track which is fast paced, off heavy and somehow once again insanely catchy. The highlight of this track for me was the drumming, adopting an almost rolling beat which gives the track a sense of pace and urgency, keeping the listener involved from start to finish. What’s also quite notable is that there’s no lyrics on this track, yet they’re somehow not missed as the guitar work does all of the talking that’s needed.
Stage Peasants is the penultimate track on the EP, this time returning us to the more off beat approach of the band and throwing you back into that pit of distortion from earlier on. Focused on a solid riff from the guitar, the bass adds in a further sense of depth through this track, keeping it as a track which is going to get people moving, people chanting along and everyone wanting more from the band. It’s only left to Marching Orders to close the EP and close it in style it does. Finishin with a fast paced track full of hooks and hammering drums which are sure to get live scenes pumping, this final moment on the album does exactly what it’s designed to do, leaves you wanting more and wondering how they’re going to follow this offering! It’s also a brave move finishing on an instrumental track, but once again the band do it, achieve it and do it well.
What I really like about the EP from Butcher In The Fog is how rough it is, it sounds like the sort of thing which could have been recorded in a garage meaning you get the actual sound of the band, rather than the sound of a producer. This realism within the music is something which is all too often lost, so to hear it makes this an EP which is well worth checking out. If you’re looking for a band that are doing real music, this is it – well worth looking in to.
To find out more about Butcher In The Fog, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with The Birds Of Black Death there’s an immediate launch into a world of melodic distortion, the music grabbing your attention and leading you along with them. Fast paced and urgent, the music itself is heavy without being over bearing or over the top, somehow managing to combine the key elements of rock n roll with a heavier approach, crafting a sound which is unique in its own right and can simply be termed ‘metal’, as that’s about as close as I can get! Whilst this is heavy and distorted, there’s also a sense of catchiness running through the music, allowing you to fully appreciate what they’re doing and get involved in the music. This strikes me as the sort of thing which is going to realise its full potential on the live scene, the recording just doesn’t seem to do it full justice. Urgent and at times, frantic, this opening track certainly suggests good things are to follow, a good opening to proceedings for sure!
Moving on to Rabbit Punch (interesting title!), the tone seems to change more towards a funky approach, layering the guitar over the bass to combine with the raspy vocal line. The mix is one which at times harks towards the likes of Primus or similar, adding in a sense of syncopation to the music whilst still crafting a track which is perfectly accessible to anyone listening to it. Personally, I really like this track and rate it highly on the EP, perhaps something to do with my love for the more prog style stuff where it doesn’t follow conventions! Title track Butcher In the Fog follows on next, this time returning us to a more conventional style and forming a track which is fast paced, off heavy and somehow once again insanely catchy. The highlight of this track for me was the drumming, adopting an almost rolling beat which gives the track a sense of pace and urgency, keeping the listener involved from start to finish. What’s also quite notable is that there’s no lyrics on this track, yet they’re somehow not missed as the guitar work does all of the talking that’s needed.
Stage Peasants is the penultimate track on the EP, this time returning us to the more off beat approach of the band and throwing you back into that pit of distortion from earlier on. Focused on a solid riff from the guitar, the bass adds in a further sense of depth through this track, keeping it as a track which is going to get people moving, people chanting along and everyone wanting more from the band. It’s only left to Marching Orders to close the EP and close it in style it does. Finishin with a fast paced track full of hooks and hammering drums which are sure to get live scenes pumping, this final moment on the album does exactly what it’s designed to do, leaves you wanting more and wondering how they’re going to follow this offering! It’s also a brave move finishing on an instrumental track, but once again the band do it, achieve it and do it well.
What I really like about the EP from Butcher In The Fog is how rough it is, it sounds like the sort of thing which could have been recorded in a garage meaning you get the actual sound of the band, rather than the sound of a producer. This realism within the music is something which is all too often lost, so to hear it makes this an EP which is well worth checking out. If you’re looking for a band that are doing real music, this is it – well worth looking in to.
To find out more about Butcher In The Fog, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls