Dirty Habit
We featured Dirty Habit a while ago, so when the guys at Skratch The Surface sent through their new self titled EP, we were pretty excited to check it out. Filled with tracks demonstrating how Jo has taken her vocals to a new level, how Toby has joined the ranks with aplomb, and how Daniel has pushed his guitar work to a new level of ‘prodigiac guitaristry’ (hey….I’m just saying what they say on the one sheet!), this promises to be three tracks well worth checking out!
Opening with Rock And Roll Victim I was immediately reminded why I liked these guys the first time I heard them, opening with a hammering riff and pounding rhythm section to get you moving, grooving and joining in with the band. Layered vocals and palm muted riffs all combined over the pounding backing drums to form a sound which doesn’t make you want to head bang or get in a pit, it makes you want to dance, drink a beer and have a damned good time! The vocals from Jo seem even more groove laden than before, somehow taking the track and turning it into something which you feel like you’ve heard before, something which wouldn’t be out of place on a major festival stage or along side another band of much bigger stature – in short – it’s a damned good opening! Throw in a solo to demonstrate that ‘prodigiac guitaristry’ and we’re onto a winner on the first track of the EP!
Done And Over follows on and once again keeps things firmly dialled into the dirty side of rock, crafting a sound which once again gets you moving, yet this time harnesses more venom and power. Intricate guitar work bounds around a jumpy drum line, the mix forming a sound which sounds like rock n roll from an era gone by, yet adding in the bands own sense of freshness and originality. What I really liked about this track is how it doesn’t follow convention, doesn’t stick to what you would expect a band to do and instead, crafts its own path through the track to ensure that the EP is still as exciting as when it first began all those tracks (track) ago!
Closing with Backstage Pass there’s one last chance to see what Dirty Habit are capable of when they set their minds to it, closing with one final moment of sheer genius and an opening line of ‘you want to do me on the couch’…..well…..that one caught me off guard! Telling the story about wanting to get backstage for less than honest reasons, this final track makes the end of the EP but shows a fun side to the band, a side which isn’t afraid to have a laugh on the track and say it how it is! Despite the less than serious lyrical content, musically, this is once again a track which is going to have you throwing some shapes, hammering out some air guitar and have you wishing you were indeed backstage with the band….for honest reasons though, don’t want to be misinterpreted there!
I really like Dirty Habit, and have done since we first featured them all that time ago. Their music doesn’t follow the conventions you’d expect from a rock n roll/punk rock style band, instead crafting its own path into its own genre which seems to combine the different approaches. Whilst only three tracks long, what you’ve got here is a selection of tracks which show how much of an impact a band can have when they know what they’re doing – in short – a band to make sure you look out for!
To find out more about Dirty Habit, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Rock And Roll Victim I was immediately reminded why I liked these guys the first time I heard them, opening with a hammering riff and pounding rhythm section to get you moving, grooving and joining in with the band. Layered vocals and palm muted riffs all combined over the pounding backing drums to form a sound which doesn’t make you want to head bang or get in a pit, it makes you want to dance, drink a beer and have a damned good time! The vocals from Jo seem even more groove laden than before, somehow taking the track and turning it into something which you feel like you’ve heard before, something which wouldn’t be out of place on a major festival stage or along side another band of much bigger stature – in short – it’s a damned good opening! Throw in a solo to demonstrate that ‘prodigiac guitaristry’ and we’re onto a winner on the first track of the EP!
Done And Over follows on and once again keeps things firmly dialled into the dirty side of rock, crafting a sound which once again gets you moving, yet this time harnesses more venom and power. Intricate guitar work bounds around a jumpy drum line, the mix forming a sound which sounds like rock n roll from an era gone by, yet adding in the bands own sense of freshness and originality. What I really liked about this track is how it doesn’t follow convention, doesn’t stick to what you would expect a band to do and instead, crafts its own path through the track to ensure that the EP is still as exciting as when it first began all those tracks (track) ago!
Closing with Backstage Pass there’s one last chance to see what Dirty Habit are capable of when they set their minds to it, closing with one final moment of sheer genius and an opening line of ‘you want to do me on the couch’…..well…..that one caught me off guard! Telling the story about wanting to get backstage for less than honest reasons, this final track makes the end of the EP but shows a fun side to the band, a side which isn’t afraid to have a laugh on the track and say it how it is! Despite the less than serious lyrical content, musically, this is once again a track which is going to have you throwing some shapes, hammering out some air guitar and have you wishing you were indeed backstage with the band….for honest reasons though, don’t want to be misinterpreted there!
I really like Dirty Habit, and have done since we first featured them all that time ago. Their music doesn’t follow the conventions you’d expect from a rock n roll/punk rock style band, instead crafting its own path into its own genre which seems to combine the different approaches. Whilst only three tracks long, what you’ve got here is a selection of tracks which show how much of an impact a band can have when they know what they’re doing – in short – a band to make sure you look out for!
To find out more about Dirty Habit, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Dirty Habit
Manchester based rock band Dirty Habit are out there and offering a ‘stellar straight up shot of rock and roll’ with their album, Mental Execution. Having had a copy sent through from Skratch The Surface, I figured it was only right I check out what this 3 piece had to offer!
Opening the album with Hell, everything kicks into a distorted mix of hammering guitar lines, pounding drums and a solid bass rhythm, the whole combination daring you to listen harder to see what the band have got going on. The vocals soon kick in and immediately take the lead, soft yet powerful over the hard hitting solid rock backing track, once again further elevating the track to a new level and really engaging you as you listen to it. Catchy throughout, this is a track which exemplifies why you need to hear these guys, it’s melodic, dirty and quite simply, rock and roll done damned well! Give it a couple of listens and you too will be chanting along to ‘a little place called hell’, banging your head and wanting to get out there to see whether these guys can pull this sound off on the live scene!
Second track Sick Of You continues the theme set down by the first track and once again opens as it means to go on, dirty riffs hammer out over a bass heavy rhythm section whilst the form of the track adds a real funky edge to proceedings – this isn’t music to mosh to, it’s music to move to! The vocals are layered up on this track which adds a further dimension to things, elevating the track from what could initially be seen as a simplistic rock track to something much bigger – it’s actually pretty staggering that this is only a three piece band as their sound is massive! Place To Be further adds to this by opening in what can be described as a funky rocky dirty way, once again getting you moving along! The vocals are more strained this time adding in more power and making you want to hear more, making you reach for that volume dial and cranking the whole mix beyond 11. This is music to listen to, it’s good time fun rock and roll which I imagine is awesome on the live scene, the crowds are bound just go mad as this kicks in! Moving from pumping mid sections into another catchy chorus, I’m honestly blown away by just how well put together these tracks are – they are way beyond what you would expect from a band who are relatively new to the scene.
Down Below carries the album forward, another track based around a pounding drum line then bolstered with a bass heavy guitar section, again it’s hard to believe that this is just a 3 piece band. Now, whether it’s my CD or the mix itself, the vocals seem to be lower in the mix on this track which fades them out a bit, they’re still there but much quieter than before. The track itself is another success though, full of dirty distorted riffs over pounding drums – I just wish I could hear it properly! Moving on though, Alcohol comes in next and puts to bed all my worries about things, opening dirty once again and setting the pace at a relatively simple yet effective one to keep everything working in harmony, this is another example of a catchy track done well, luring you in and getting you singing along after a couple of listens. What’s really striking on this track though is the mid section where it almost breaks down, the riffs fade out and a picked lead line takes over before hammering onwards again – this brief respite allows a moment to reflect on everything so far and really puts the whole album so far in perspective – there’s no fronts here, no bullshit, just downright good rock and roll – and it’s good!
Car Wreck follows on next, a much more bass heavy track full of intricate riffing (or as their one sheet says – prodigiac guitaristry) and more slamming drums. Full on and in your face despite being slower once again, this is yet another catchy offering from Dirty Habit and one which is sure to get live crowds chanting along. Make sure you check out this track if you get the chance – the solo they throw into the mix in the middle of the track further develops the bass heavy rhythms and lifts this track to a new level, something which I think makes this one of my personal favourites from the whole album. Verge Of Insanity on the other hand is a return to the bands downright rock and roll roots, once again funky and hard hitting from the moment it opens to the second it closes. This track is more of a galloping journey through a track, adopting a beat which once again gets you out of your seat and gets you moving along with them. Catchy, melodic, dirty, sludgy and energetic throughout, this is another triumph on the album and another track which I highly recommend you get out there and check out.
Tracks 8, 9, 10 and 11 (Daddy’s Little Girl, Gold Digger, Make Things Right and Dirty Little Habit respectively) all follow the conventions of the album set down so far, something which all too often can cause an album to become monotonous or boring – but in this case it doesn’t. Whilst the tracks are all rock tracks, each one is unique in it’s own right yet follows the general conventions of the band – it’s a hard thing to put into words but suffice to say they’re all ones which I need to get out there and check out on the live scene – especially Dirty Little Habit, a track which will have you chanting ‘I’ve got a dirty little habit and now you’ve got one too’ within seconds. As it comes to a close and final track Go Hard Or go Home closes proceedings, you’re left with no doubt in your mind that firstly, this is a band to be reckoned with, and secondly, this is a band who are on the road to a very cool place! Dirty, sludgy, funky and hard hitting once again, this track closes things leaving you wanting more and questioning why the hell you’ve not gotten off of your ass and gone to see these play live – much like the rest of the album!
Now, it’s a real shame that the copy of the album I’ve got doesn’t play properly, it’s distorted the sound somehow and that’s really proved a distraction whilst I’ve been writing this. What we’ve got here though is Dirty Habit, a band who have crafted tracks which on first listen sound like simple rock and roll music, but when you really listen there’s a lot more than that. The different levels of vocals, the different guitar lines, the thundering drumming – it’s all there in the mix layered in such a way that means you can hear every single thing going on, and it’s a pleasure to hear! I’ll be keeping an eye on these guys to see what comes next as based on this, it could well be massive!
So to summarise – more please!
To find out more about Dirty Habit, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Opening the album with Hell, everything kicks into a distorted mix of hammering guitar lines, pounding drums and a solid bass rhythm, the whole combination daring you to listen harder to see what the band have got going on. The vocals soon kick in and immediately take the lead, soft yet powerful over the hard hitting solid rock backing track, once again further elevating the track to a new level and really engaging you as you listen to it. Catchy throughout, this is a track which exemplifies why you need to hear these guys, it’s melodic, dirty and quite simply, rock and roll done damned well! Give it a couple of listens and you too will be chanting along to ‘a little place called hell’, banging your head and wanting to get out there to see whether these guys can pull this sound off on the live scene!
Second track Sick Of You continues the theme set down by the first track and once again opens as it means to go on, dirty riffs hammer out over a bass heavy rhythm section whilst the form of the track adds a real funky edge to proceedings – this isn’t music to mosh to, it’s music to move to! The vocals are layered up on this track which adds a further dimension to things, elevating the track from what could initially be seen as a simplistic rock track to something much bigger – it’s actually pretty staggering that this is only a three piece band as their sound is massive! Place To Be further adds to this by opening in what can be described as a funky rocky dirty way, once again getting you moving along! The vocals are more strained this time adding in more power and making you want to hear more, making you reach for that volume dial and cranking the whole mix beyond 11. This is music to listen to, it’s good time fun rock and roll which I imagine is awesome on the live scene, the crowds are bound just go mad as this kicks in! Moving from pumping mid sections into another catchy chorus, I’m honestly blown away by just how well put together these tracks are – they are way beyond what you would expect from a band who are relatively new to the scene.
Down Below carries the album forward, another track based around a pounding drum line then bolstered with a bass heavy guitar section, again it’s hard to believe that this is just a 3 piece band. Now, whether it’s my CD or the mix itself, the vocals seem to be lower in the mix on this track which fades them out a bit, they’re still there but much quieter than before. The track itself is another success though, full of dirty distorted riffs over pounding drums – I just wish I could hear it properly! Moving on though, Alcohol comes in next and puts to bed all my worries about things, opening dirty once again and setting the pace at a relatively simple yet effective one to keep everything working in harmony, this is another example of a catchy track done well, luring you in and getting you singing along after a couple of listens. What’s really striking on this track though is the mid section where it almost breaks down, the riffs fade out and a picked lead line takes over before hammering onwards again – this brief respite allows a moment to reflect on everything so far and really puts the whole album so far in perspective – there’s no fronts here, no bullshit, just downright good rock and roll – and it’s good!
Car Wreck follows on next, a much more bass heavy track full of intricate riffing (or as their one sheet says – prodigiac guitaristry) and more slamming drums. Full on and in your face despite being slower once again, this is yet another catchy offering from Dirty Habit and one which is sure to get live crowds chanting along. Make sure you check out this track if you get the chance – the solo they throw into the mix in the middle of the track further develops the bass heavy rhythms and lifts this track to a new level, something which I think makes this one of my personal favourites from the whole album. Verge Of Insanity on the other hand is a return to the bands downright rock and roll roots, once again funky and hard hitting from the moment it opens to the second it closes. This track is more of a galloping journey through a track, adopting a beat which once again gets you out of your seat and gets you moving along with them. Catchy, melodic, dirty, sludgy and energetic throughout, this is another triumph on the album and another track which I highly recommend you get out there and check out.
Tracks 8, 9, 10 and 11 (Daddy’s Little Girl, Gold Digger, Make Things Right and Dirty Little Habit respectively) all follow the conventions of the album set down so far, something which all too often can cause an album to become monotonous or boring – but in this case it doesn’t. Whilst the tracks are all rock tracks, each one is unique in it’s own right yet follows the general conventions of the band – it’s a hard thing to put into words but suffice to say they’re all ones which I need to get out there and check out on the live scene – especially Dirty Little Habit, a track which will have you chanting ‘I’ve got a dirty little habit and now you’ve got one too’ within seconds. As it comes to a close and final track Go Hard Or go Home closes proceedings, you’re left with no doubt in your mind that firstly, this is a band to be reckoned with, and secondly, this is a band who are on the road to a very cool place! Dirty, sludgy, funky and hard hitting once again, this track closes things leaving you wanting more and questioning why the hell you’ve not gotten off of your ass and gone to see these play live – much like the rest of the album!
Now, it’s a real shame that the copy of the album I’ve got doesn’t play properly, it’s distorted the sound somehow and that’s really proved a distraction whilst I’ve been writing this. What we’ve got here though is Dirty Habit, a band who have crafted tracks which on first listen sound like simple rock and roll music, but when you really listen there’s a lot more than that. The different levels of vocals, the different guitar lines, the thundering drumming – it’s all there in the mix layered in such a way that means you can hear every single thing going on, and it’s a pleasure to hear! I’ll be keeping an eye on these guys to see what comes next as based on this, it could well be massive!
So to summarise – more please!
To find out more about Dirty Habit, check out their Facebook page HERE.
