EP REVIEW: Funny Feeling EP – Out Of Love

OUT OF LOVE‘s Funny Feeling EP is their follow up to 2020’s debut I Am Not Me, and just like that previous release it comes amid a global pandemic that means their brand of positive mental attitude hardcore has to refrain from being heard live for at least a few more months. Dealing with frontman Jack Rogers’ battle with his own mental health, a subject that will certainly be relevant to a lot of listeners after the past twelve months, the band still manage to take a heavy subject and infuse the dark lyrics with a sunshine that matches their neon colour palate.

Taking inspiration from the 90s skate punk resurgence, the evidence of influence from the likes of early GREEN DAY, SONIC YOUTH and DESCENDENTS is obvious throughout, but imbibed with a British hardcore tinge. From Rogers’ work with various British bands in his main role as an artist, it is clear that he has picked up several tips and tricks from the likes of HOLDING ABSENCE and LOATHE, which really gives this EP the energy it needs to build momentum as part of that scene.

Clocking in at just under 12 minutes in total, with no song even reaching three minutes in length, this is a short, sharp and energetic burst of positive energy from OUT OF LOVE. The record absolutely powers through, with very little room for breathing, and whilst the majority of this is straight up punk, there are some really cool shoegazey vocals from Rogers on final track See Right Thru, which give hints that OUT OF LOVE might evolve their sound when they get a longer tracklisting to play with. It’s always hard to mess about with variety on a shorter release, but OUT OF LOVE have proven here that there is more than one string to their bow,

This is a damn good follow-up to I Am Not Me and it raises some important topics around mental health. But unlike most bands, this EP doesn’t shade them in darkness or make them sound like something to be afraid of. Instead, OUT OF LOVE bring them into the sunlight and neon bright colours that is their signature look, and prove that hardcore doesn’t have to be gloomy when discussing important subjects. Most of all, OUT OF LOVE make this EP fun, and that’s something that seems to have been missing from hardcore lately.

Rating: 7/10

Funny Feeling is out now via Venn Records.

Like OUT OF LOVE on Facebook.