EP REVIEW: Bowser’s Mixtape – Belmont
Picking up where their 8-bit inspired music video for Bowser’s Castle left off, Chicago quartet BELMONT‘s new EP, Bowser’s Mixtape, carries on the video game theme with a cover which depicts the members as characters in an animated form. It is a unique cover, and one to certainly grab people’s attention. The same is true of the record itself, which comprises six largely solid tracks.
The aforementioned Bowser’s Castle kicks off the EP in a riot of noise. The band are very confident in their pop-punk sound, and they hit the ground running complete with a diversion into metal. This genre-hopping does not feel out of place, thanks largely to the fantastic production. Pain Now which follows is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The song starts off slow before launching into a mixture of nu-metal and Chicago drill. It is not as impressive as the first song, struggling to make enough noise to compete for attention. However, this does not mean BELMONT have lost their style. The song is still good, but can feel a little lacklustre after the fantastic opening song. Either way, the pacing of the EP is not affected by this.
The next song is a cover of AVENGED SEVENFOLD‘s Nightmare. It starts off with haunting electronic beat before the guitar comes in and rips up the rule book. The band lean into the heavy metal side of music, and they suit it. It’s clear this EP shows the diversity of BELMONT, and it does not feel like a gimmick as they suit every genre on the record very well so far. Almost all bands nowadays try their hand at genre-hopping; many miss the mark, but BELMONT get it right.
Hollowed is an acoustic track. It is a welcome break from the heavy music, and feels like a nice way of showcasing singer Taz Johnson‘s voice. However, the surprise is bassist Alex Weiringa, whose backing vocals compliment Johnson‘s. The only unfortunate part of this song is that it can be easy to tune out as it does get a bit repetitive. This is a shame because if you pay attention this is another highlight. After that, the band’s 2018 single Pushing Daises gets a remix on this EP, but it feels a little out of place. It comes out of nowhere, temporarily derailing the pacing of the EP, which has been consistent until now. The song itself is decent enough, but it just doesn’t fit the sound of the EP so far.
The last song is a cover of the popular song Stay, originally by THE KID LAROI and JUSTIN BIEBER. The song fits the EP, especially as there is a rock spin on it. This makes it unique to them, and also fits the style of Bowser’s Mixtape. The band get the pacing of the EP back on track with this song, and it makes for a delightful end to a fantastic EP.
In conclusion, BELMONT are here to make an impact with this EP. The band embrace genre-hopping, and – for the most part – it works. Despite a misstep with the remix of Pushing Daises, there is something for everyone here, including rock, drill, metal and electronic music, to name but a few genres. The band are confident in their sound, and the fantastic production lets them truly shine. Anyone who adores genre-hopping bands like WARGASM and ENTER SHIKARI should definitely check this out.
Rating: 8/10
Bowser’s Mixtape is set for release on November 19th via Pure Noise Records.
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