EP REVIEW: Drive – The 69 Eyes
Glam and goth aren’t subgenres that crossover often. Rather, they’re considered to be on the opposite ends of the spectrum. Especially in their respective heyday, the two styles, aesthetically and orally, wouldn’t be caught on a bus together, let alone within the same musical group. For THE 69 EYES, creating what they dub “goth n roll” since the 1990s has come naturally to them, especially as they have progressed through the last three decades successfully. Now, before their announced album scheduled for 2023, the band have released a snippet of what to expect in the form of the Drive EP. So, in this little snippet of four songs, are we to expect gothic glory or a glamorous disaster?
Title track Drive opens up this EP with some cool hard glam rock right from the get go, with grand, epic guitars, extraordinary drumming and steady but grooving bass. When the vocals come in, if you’re a newcomer to the band, it’s unexpected to hear such a low bass tone compared to the usual high falsettos that make up glam metal, but it’s certainly a welcome change of pace. With lyrics that make the listener feel cool no matter where they play the song, it’s a great way to start this EP and can put anyone in a good mood.
Call Me Snake takes more of a gothic direction and the music is beautiful, grand and fantastic. Vocally stellar, it’s a track that could fit comfortably in GHOST’s discography in all aspects of its music. However, the lyrics fall short compared to the track before it. Here, the lyrics feel shallow and lacking any emotional weight to match the stunning music underneath it. It’s almost there, but not quite. A low point in the EP.
The third track California provides a much stronger and harder sound to the EP that is needed and welcomed in equal measure. The lyrics are far better; they’re stronger and more fiery as they talk about the heat of the state in relation to a person the vocalist is interested in. Like the lyrics, the music is equally as fiery and electric, the guitar really carries this song through its riffs and solo, providing a countermelody within the song that is sublime to listen to and demands repeat listening.
The final track, a live version of Two Horns Up, is an excellent way to close out the EP, with an epic hard rocking riff that takes elements from thrash metal, and some exceptional vocals that are deep and gothic, whilst also delivering the lyrics exceptionally well. This version would make any listener want to see this band live so they can experience this grand sound in a live setting.
Overall, despite only being four tracks in length, Drive is a great snippet into THE 69 EYES album coming in 2023, as well as a great continuation on their goth n roll sound. If this is the first time people listen to them, it’s a great introduction to who they are and what their sound is all about. For long term fans, this will please them as well as get them excited for what’s next for the band. Drive is a great EP for anyone who likes goth music, glam metal, and the small subsection that happen to love both.
Rating: 8/10
Drive is out now via Atomic Fire Records.
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