EP REVIEW: Love Gang – Bobby Lies

German-born singer BOBBY LIES has released his debut EP, Love Gang. After his band, COYOTES broke up, he went on a TV show called The Voice Of Germany and reached the finals. However, he realised that the pop world wasn’t his place. Therefore, he decided to start concentrating on his solo career. He reunited with old friends from his punk and hardcore days, and has crafted a career that is a part of the punk revival. Love Gang is five songs long, and the perfect catalyst for his career.

The Drugs That I Do is a fast-paced punk song that follows the pop-punk revival. However, it also has its own twist as the guitars are heavier and it starts off with an acoustic guitar before diving into the traditional hardcore punk sound. It  could have some more energy during the verses, which are rather mellow in comparison with the choruses, this makes the song sound a bit jarring in terms of its tone. However, it is a fun start to the EP as the chorus more than makes up for the mellower verses.

Thankfully, How Not To Be Like This is an improvement on the opening song. It is a more mellow one; however, it keeps this up throughout the song, which makes it consistent. It also incorporates some electronic elements, which makes it unique and also shows that he is not content with just sticking to one genre.

Whilst I Don’t Like You does fall into a more softer-punk sound, its strength is in the electronic element that is used predominantly in the second chorus. The EP is clever as each song builds upon each other and furthermore, although not all the songs hit the right notes, as the punk instruments are softened as the EP progresses, this is BOBBY LIES‘ debut EP. It is early days for him, and he has a lot of time to progress.

Saying that, Love Gang does show that BOBBY LIES has a lot potential. He is an expert is mixing electronic and punk music together to make it sound well. Furthermore, the overall EP is paced very well indeed. Each song is mid-tempo, and the pacing isn’t too fast, despite the short runtime of the songs. In fact, the production on all the songs are brilliant as they set the pacing of the overall EP.

Despite some of the punk side of things getting a little lost during the middle of the EP, this isn’t the case during the last song, Too Good To Be You. It is a punk heavy song that makes the most of the heavier influences in BOBBY LIES‘ repetoire. As a closing song, it is rather short, at only two and a half minutes; however, thanks to the production, it doesn’t feel that short.

Overall, Love Gang is an impressive debut EP by BOBBY LIES. Despite a slightly shaky start during the first song in regards to the inconsistent tone, the rest of the EP more than makes up for it. Whilst the punk sound does get a little lost in the middle of it, the use of the electronic elements showcase an exciting take on punk music. It is still early days yet, but this medium paced, fun, and enjoyable EP is a very promising start for the career of an exciting star. BOBBY LIES is a name to watch.

Rating: 8/10

Love Gang is out now via Easthaven Records. 

Follow BOBBY LIES on Instagram.