Tussk - Cougar Bait EP
We featured Tussk a while back when we checked out some of the tracks on their Facebook page, and were quite impressed with what we heard. When they dropped us a line then with their entire EP, Cougar Bait, who were we to turn down the chance to check out the whole thing? As such, I sat back and hit play to see what was going on with things.
Opening with When The Sea we get off to an upbeat and moving start, the initial moments of the track luring you in before blasting onwards with a hammering riff, pounding drum line and sense of overwhelming power. This power combines with a sense of melody throughout, forming a track which is rolling, upbeat, and the sort of thing which is sure to get a venue pumping from the word go. If you’re looking for a band that are sure to put on a show which is going to stay with you for a long time to come then this could well be the band for you, immediately showing off what they’re capable of with this opening number. The chorus is the key hinge for the track, laying down the sort of thing which oozes with rolling drum lines, powerful vocals which rove between roaring and more melodic singing, and a real sense that this is the band playing, not a studio sorting their sound out for them – a great track to get things moving.
Shark continues where the first track left off, immediately getting things going with a pounding rhythm section, oozing with groove orientated riffs and offering up another track designed to get the crowd moving. Heavy yet restrained at the same time, this track doesn’t focus too much on the power, instead allowing the track to form naturally around you and allowing you the chance to hear everything that’s going on. Soaring guitar lines combine with the funky, bass heavy rhythms and once again, raise the bar for this EP, two tracks in and things are looking damned good. Raised follows on and once again lets us know who we’re listening to, showing off the bands groove tendencies and revealing a new outlook, something which hasn’t been seen up to this point, the ability to rove between the hard hitting moments and moments of serene calm. This contrast within the track makes this something special, the sort of track which stands out as a hell of an accomplishment, and shows that there’s more to these guys than first meets the eye, certainly one of my favourite tracks off of the EP for sure.
SOS marks another slight change in the progression of the EP, this time showing off a more classic rock edge and revealing their influences throughout. There’s something about this track which manages to lift it to a new level, showing that this is a band that are always on the look out for ways to develop their sound, ways to progress their songs, and ways to evolve. Fast paced, raw and heavy throughout, this track stands out as another high point on the EP, and a moment to check out for sure. It’s only left then for Wreck to come in to close the EP, finishing with another bass heavy, groove orientated melee of hammering guitars, pounding drums, and roaring vocals. The final moments on this EP are amongst the heaviest on the record, leaving things on a distorted note and showing that they’re by no means done yet. Somehow managing to combine the classic rock approach with an almost Devil Driver style vocal and guitar line, this final track is almost a taste of what’s to come, showing off what we can expect from these guys, and showing us exactly why we should be listening to them!
The EP sampler we checked out before didn’t give a massive amount away about what we were in for with this EP, but what’s on offer here is something accomplished, well put together and incredible addictive. This EP from Tussk is the sort of thing you’ll hear once and then come back to time and time again, the sort of thing which will never sound outdated, and the sort of thing which you need in your collection!
To find out more about Tussk, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with When The Sea we get off to an upbeat and moving start, the initial moments of the track luring you in before blasting onwards with a hammering riff, pounding drum line and sense of overwhelming power. This power combines with a sense of melody throughout, forming a track which is rolling, upbeat, and the sort of thing which is sure to get a venue pumping from the word go. If you’re looking for a band that are sure to put on a show which is going to stay with you for a long time to come then this could well be the band for you, immediately showing off what they’re capable of with this opening number. The chorus is the key hinge for the track, laying down the sort of thing which oozes with rolling drum lines, powerful vocals which rove between roaring and more melodic singing, and a real sense that this is the band playing, not a studio sorting their sound out for them – a great track to get things moving.
Shark continues where the first track left off, immediately getting things going with a pounding rhythm section, oozing with groove orientated riffs and offering up another track designed to get the crowd moving. Heavy yet restrained at the same time, this track doesn’t focus too much on the power, instead allowing the track to form naturally around you and allowing you the chance to hear everything that’s going on. Soaring guitar lines combine with the funky, bass heavy rhythms and once again, raise the bar for this EP, two tracks in and things are looking damned good. Raised follows on and once again lets us know who we’re listening to, showing off the bands groove tendencies and revealing a new outlook, something which hasn’t been seen up to this point, the ability to rove between the hard hitting moments and moments of serene calm. This contrast within the track makes this something special, the sort of track which stands out as a hell of an accomplishment, and shows that there’s more to these guys than first meets the eye, certainly one of my favourite tracks off of the EP for sure.
SOS marks another slight change in the progression of the EP, this time showing off a more classic rock edge and revealing their influences throughout. There’s something about this track which manages to lift it to a new level, showing that this is a band that are always on the look out for ways to develop their sound, ways to progress their songs, and ways to evolve. Fast paced, raw and heavy throughout, this track stands out as another high point on the EP, and a moment to check out for sure. It’s only left then for Wreck to come in to close the EP, finishing with another bass heavy, groove orientated melee of hammering guitars, pounding drums, and roaring vocals. The final moments on this EP are amongst the heaviest on the record, leaving things on a distorted note and showing that they’re by no means done yet. Somehow managing to combine the classic rock approach with an almost Devil Driver style vocal and guitar line, this final track is almost a taste of what’s to come, showing off what we can expect from these guys, and showing us exactly why we should be listening to them!
The EP sampler we checked out before didn’t give a massive amount away about what we were in for with this EP, but what’s on offer here is something accomplished, well put together and incredible addictive. This EP from Tussk is the sort of thing you’ll hear once and then come back to time and time again, the sort of thing which will never sound outdated, and the sort of thing which you need in your collection!
To find out more about Tussk, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Tussk
Describing themselves as peddlars of the sweatiest of grooves, Tussk recently got in touch to let us know about their stuff and to see what we thought. An English southern metal band from Stoke On Trent formed in 2010, this 5 piece have been working hard, developing their sound and are now poised to launch their EP – so who were we to refuse the chance to check out their music?!
Coin To Toss certainly gets things moving in a groovy and sludgy manner, the mix of guitars and drums working with the pounding backing rhythms and forming a sound which is sure to get people moving. Upbeat and full of funky power, the guitars combine with the varied vocals throughout to keep a sense of power running through things, the whole mix sounding like a heavy version of Velvet Revolver at times, and all out metal like Pantera at other times. The resulting sound is one which is going to appeal to fans, get them moving, and build these guys a reputation as a must see act – the sort of thing which is going to appeal to fans of different genres due to the accessible sound going on here. As the track played out I found myself thinking of the bands above, but also of The Dirty Americans at other times, offering up that sort of rock n roll sound which is on its way back in right now – in short, it’s a damned good track!
The other track on their FB page is a sampler track of Cougar Bait, showing off further their groove centric riffs from their upcoming album – suggesting that what is coming out is going to be one hell of a record to behold. Based on the sample here, there’s a real mix on the album, featuring tracks which form around the bands key ideas of groove rock but with an extra element included, an element of sheer power and heaviness – definitely looking like an album to check out.
I’ve been impressed by what I’ve heard from Tussk, as the sound here is one which is far more accomplished than I was expecting. The band have taken a genre which has been done a hell of a lot, and turned it into something which is more powerful, more melodic, and firmly rooted in the bands own feelings and outlook. This is a band I’ll be keeping an eye out for to see what comes next.
To find out more about Tussk, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Coin To Toss certainly gets things moving in a groovy and sludgy manner, the mix of guitars and drums working with the pounding backing rhythms and forming a sound which is sure to get people moving. Upbeat and full of funky power, the guitars combine with the varied vocals throughout to keep a sense of power running through things, the whole mix sounding like a heavy version of Velvet Revolver at times, and all out metal like Pantera at other times. The resulting sound is one which is going to appeal to fans, get them moving, and build these guys a reputation as a must see act – the sort of thing which is going to appeal to fans of different genres due to the accessible sound going on here. As the track played out I found myself thinking of the bands above, but also of The Dirty Americans at other times, offering up that sort of rock n roll sound which is on its way back in right now – in short, it’s a damned good track!
The other track on their FB page is a sampler track of Cougar Bait, showing off further their groove centric riffs from their upcoming album – suggesting that what is coming out is going to be one hell of a record to behold. Based on the sample here, there’s a real mix on the album, featuring tracks which form around the bands key ideas of groove rock but with an extra element included, an element of sheer power and heaviness – definitely looking like an album to check out.
I’ve been impressed by what I’ve heard from Tussk, as the sound here is one which is far more accomplished than I was expecting. The band have taken a genre which has been done a hell of a lot, and turned it into something which is more powerful, more melodic, and firmly rooted in the bands own feelings and outlook. This is a band I’ll be keeping an eye out for to see what comes next.
To find out more about Tussk, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls