EP REVIEW: Freak Show – ALT BLK ERA

Sisters Nyrobi and Chaya might only be 19 and 16 years old respectively, but the last 18 months have seen them honing their craft. They are not only songwriters, but also social activists, and they’ve released ten singles before this debut EP. Freak Show creates a space for those who live outside the norm, it’s an EP for the misunderstood. The duo recently headlined the BBC Introducing stage at Reading & Leeds Festival, and earlier this year the played the Shangri-La Truth Stage at Glastonbury, so it’s clear that they’re a name to watch, but will Freak Show catapult them to stardom?

I’m Normally Like This starts off with moody synths before erupting into a synth-rock anthem. Whilst the duo sometimes fall into cliche with the lyrics, they also perfectly capture the alienation of the teenage years that everyone can relate to. The most ambitious thing about the song is the sisters’ fantastic electronic-rock backing track, as both the electronic and the rock side get equal footing.

This continues in Misfits: SOLAR, which is the first of a two-part song. It builds upon the sound of the previous track, which gives the EP continuity. In fact, all the songs on the EP build upon one another, but also add something new, like how the title track also includes creepy and haunting classic music mixed in with the electronic rock.

The overall pacing of the EP is fast, but it doesn’t mean it flies by in a flash. Each song is fleshed out, despite their generally short runtimes, and the production allows each song to stand on its own while also fitting as a part of the EP as a whole. Whether it is the heavy bass on Misfits: LUNAR or the synths on I’m Normally Like This, the songs sound individual.

The band also have time to experiment without it becoming overwhelming, which is most evident in the closing song, the aforementioned Misfits: LUNAR, which leans into heavy rock. It almost verges on heavy metal, but thankfully reigns it in before getting ahead of itself. It’s full of heavy basslines and a snarling vocal delivery and is definitely the heaviest track on the EP, but it never goes too far, which might have ended up hurting the EP more than helping it.

Overall, Freak Show is a fantastic debut EP. ALT BLK ERA are an exciting duo who know what their sound is. Despite both of them being so young, they have created a fun, unique sound that isn’t afraid to push boundaries. The EP works well as a whole, while also creating some fantastic individual songs. There are hints of experimentation that do not overwhelm the tracks, but give an idea of something exciting that could happen in the future. It is clear that ALT BLK ERA are just getting started on what could well be world domination.

Rating: 8/10

Freak Show is out now via self-release.

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