Northpaw
Garry from SAN PR recently dropped us a line, letting us know about the new EP, Trepidation, from post-hardcore unit Northpaw, due out on Monday the 28th of January 2013. Drawing influence from the likes of Glassjaw, Thrice, Norma Jean and The Bled, these guys are out delivering highly engaging slabs of post-hardcore which is intense, whole-hearted and ultimately compelling – which sounds cool to me. Having been on the go since 2011, these guys have been working hard to get this EP together, so I thought it only right I check things out for myself!
As Extinction gets us going we’re thrown into a melee of roaring vocals, hammering guitar lines, pounding rhythms and a sense of all out power. Despite this powerful approach there’s also a massive amount of melody thrown into the mix, the chorus offering up the sort of thing which is going to get people singing along, joining in, and wanting more. Add in a breakdown of epic proportions and what you’ve got is a track which sets the EP up, presents us with a band who clearly know what they’re doing, and lure us in to listen to what else they’ve got on offer – pretty much the exact start any band would want from their EP! More soon comes along in the form of Face Needs, fading into being with a sense of ominous melody before launching into another hammering mix of distorted elements. Managing to level the mix to allow us to hear everything that’s going on, the track continues to push the boundaries of post-hardcore, showing what a band can achieve when they’re all on the same page, how they can form their music, and what the result can be. To me, this track is a serious high point on the EP, the sort of track which is going to convert people to the band and make them check out all of their other stuff – plus it sounds like the sort of thing which is going to be brutal live.
If we thought that the last track was full on then Habitus presents us with a whole new level, this time launching straight into the track and pushing the boundaries of what we’ve heard so far to a new point, a point where things are heavier, more powerful, and far more in your face. Heavy and distorted once again, this track manages to harness all of the power within the band to present us with hammering guitars, occasional feedback designed to accentuate everything, rumbling bass rhythms and drums which take on syncopated rhythms with aplomb. This ability to mix everything is something which is going to stand these guys in good stead moving forwards, and certainly make people want to hear more. Oil, Gratulerar comes up next and, despite the strange track name, manages to continue the progression of the EP, remaining heavy and keeping the sound of the band at the forefront of the overall sound. This track presents us with another serious high point on the EP, somehow combining their hardcore roots with a sense of almost classic rock, giving the track a catchy edge and hooking the listener in from the word go. The closing of the track is perhaps the most powerful moment though, fading the track out with atmospheric sounds which leave you sat back and reflecting, thinking about where you’ve come from and looking forward to the next hurrah.
Leading straight on from the previous track, Artificial Respiration comes about to close the EP, finishing things on another melodic and dark note, closing the EP much as it began and presenting us with the final chapter. The bass heavy rhythms which close the EP are melodic, hard hitting and powerful from the word go, closing things in style and leaving you a breathless heap in the corner. To me, this track leaves me wanting more, knowing that what I’ve heard has been cool, but knowing there’s still more to come from the guys – it’s almost a crescendo to the EP without being over the top, simply letting us know it’s all good!
I like that Northpaw have come onto my radar as they’ve presented me with a band I know I’m going to keep listening to. From start to finish this is an accomplished EP, the sort of thing which sets a band up to move forwards in style and makes you think that there’s a hell of a bright future ahead of them. Definitely one to watch, and another band added to my bands I’ve got to see live list – one to check out!
To find out more about Northpaw, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
As Extinction gets us going we’re thrown into a melee of roaring vocals, hammering guitar lines, pounding rhythms and a sense of all out power. Despite this powerful approach there’s also a massive amount of melody thrown into the mix, the chorus offering up the sort of thing which is going to get people singing along, joining in, and wanting more. Add in a breakdown of epic proportions and what you’ve got is a track which sets the EP up, presents us with a band who clearly know what they’re doing, and lure us in to listen to what else they’ve got on offer – pretty much the exact start any band would want from their EP! More soon comes along in the form of Face Needs, fading into being with a sense of ominous melody before launching into another hammering mix of distorted elements. Managing to level the mix to allow us to hear everything that’s going on, the track continues to push the boundaries of post-hardcore, showing what a band can achieve when they’re all on the same page, how they can form their music, and what the result can be. To me, this track is a serious high point on the EP, the sort of track which is going to convert people to the band and make them check out all of their other stuff – plus it sounds like the sort of thing which is going to be brutal live.
If we thought that the last track was full on then Habitus presents us with a whole new level, this time launching straight into the track and pushing the boundaries of what we’ve heard so far to a new point, a point where things are heavier, more powerful, and far more in your face. Heavy and distorted once again, this track manages to harness all of the power within the band to present us with hammering guitars, occasional feedback designed to accentuate everything, rumbling bass rhythms and drums which take on syncopated rhythms with aplomb. This ability to mix everything is something which is going to stand these guys in good stead moving forwards, and certainly make people want to hear more. Oil, Gratulerar comes up next and, despite the strange track name, manages to continue the progression of the EP, remaining heavy and keeping the sound of the band at the forefront of the overall sound. This track presents us with another serious high point on the EP, somehow combining their hardcore roots with a sense of almost classic rock, giving the track a catchy edge and hooking the listener in from the word go. The closing of the track is perhaps the most powerful moment though, fading the track out with atmospheric sounds which leave you sat back and reflecting, thinking about where you’ve come from and looking forward to the next hurrah.
Leading straight on from the previous track, Artificial Respiration comes about to close the EP, finishing things on another melodic and dark note, closing the EP much as it began and presenting us with the final chapter. The bass heavy rhythms which close the EP are melodic, hard hitting and powerful from the word go, closing things in style and leaving you a breathless heap in the corner. To me, this track leaves me wanting more, knowing that what I’ve heard has been cool, but knowing there’s still more to come from the guys – it’s almost a crescendo to the EP without being over the top, simply letting us know it’s all good!
I like that Northpaw have come onto my radar as they’ve presented me with a band I know I’m going to keep listening to. From start to finish this is an accomplished EP, the sort of thing which sets a band up to move forwards in style and makes you think that there’s a hell of a bright future ahead of them. Definitely one to watch, and another band added to my bands I’ve got to see live list – one to check out!
To find out more about Northpaw, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
