EP REVIEW: Safety First – MSRY
The punk rock ethic is alive and well and truly flows through the veins of the three individuals that make up MSRY. The three members formed the band in 2016 in the English county of Oxfordshire. The three members of the band, vocalist Kial Churcher, guitarist Charlie Bishop and drummer Keir French and have proved time and time again that they are prepared to work themselves in to the ground and have literally put their bodies on the line to create their brand of chaotic hardcore music. Now that the band have got their latest release Safety First committed to tape (well, file nowadays) it’s time for them to take a step out in to the wide world and show the country exactly what they can do.
The main challenge for MSRY when it comes to their latest EP is the same issue that plagued the band LETLIVE. throughout their entire career and that is capturing the raw, savage energy that is put on display in their live shows and showing it on recording. So, did they achieve it?
Safety First opens with the track S.I.C.K and introduces the listener to a STRAY FROM THE PATH-esque guitar introduction and groove. The vocals are clear and hard hitting from the outset, which is amazing in itself because Churcher sounds as though he has been gargling gravel for years with the amount of rasp in his vocal approach, sounding somewhere in between George Pettit of ALEXISONFIRE and Liam Cormier of CANCER BATS. This track is a real show of intent and demonstrates what MSRY are all about and that is bringing massive riffs, watertight rhythmic sections and high octane vocals and when the music is this powerful, the fact that they are a trio working without a bassist is virtually unnoticeable and irrelevant. Taking in to account that the guitar tone from Bishop has been carefully selected to cover all the bases required when it comes to taking this huge sound on the road.
The following track Broken Teeth steps up the tempo significantly and the listener is subjected to a roundhouse kick straight to the ear canal. The chaotic vocals and buzz saw guitar riffs are certainly going to whip the audiences in to a frenzy and the half time drum beat will have the hardcore dancers out in force when they drop this track in to the setlist. The guest vocal spot Thomas Smith of fellow UK Hardcore ruffians LIFETIGHT is a welcome addition with his energetic vocal approach perfectly pairing with Churcher and adding that extra something to the breakdown of the song.
The party continues to pick up with the track Freedom providing more of the same carnage as we have seen throughout the first part of the release. Then comes the title track of the EP, Safety First, which had previously been released with a music video to help promote the EP’s release (highly recommended if you get the time). This track is MSRY firing on all cylinders and proving why they are one of the most exciting Hardcore outfits in the British scene right now. They are not reinventing the wheel here when it comes to the style of the track but when the music has the kind of visceral, chaotic delivery and emotive drive behind it and the vocals are as savage and unhinged as they are on this song it is hard to not get wrapped up in the sound and want to flip tables and head-butt whatever unfortunate soul walks in to your vicinity.
The big question here was whether or not the band could harness and repackage their insane live energy and performance into a studio effort and the answer is a very simple, very sincere yes. If Safety First is the mission statement from MSRY then the world better get ready because it is about to gets its arse very thoroughly kicked.
Rating: 8/10
Safety First is set for release on July 6th via self-release.
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