EP REVIEW: Save Yourself – Liquid State

It might not be the biggest of cities, but the alternative music scene in Bristol is on fire right now. The likes of EMBODIMENT and MORTISHEAD are flying the metal flag with gusto and artists such as acoustic shred duo SOLARA and alt-rock darlings ELEA CALVET are coming through with so much regularity it’s only a matter of time before one of them breaks through the glass ceiling. If LIQUID STATE are anything to go by, that could be sooner than first thought.

The quartet won the 2017 Underdog Battle of the Bands competition in the city last year and have used the momentum to become one of the shining stars across the local area. On Friday, their debut EP Save Yourself comes into the world, the first chance people have to hear their schizophrenic rock pumped into their ears at a moment’s notice.

It doesn’t take long for this EP to make its first mark; less than half a minute into opening song Temper and there’s already been an atmosphere, ethereal intro into a sparkling guitar riff and explosion into the main body. Couple this with a massive chorus and Keren Ashley‘s ability to fill her melodic pipes with as much spite as possible and you have a proper mover and shaker that could give MARMOZETS a run for their money. It sets the tone for the other four tracks present as well; Bones to Glass is infectious, upbeat and has plenty of bounce, with follow up track Unscathed is unashamedly in your face as it channels the likes of ARCANE ROOTS and DREAM STATE; there’s also a lovely breakdown in the middle for the mosh lovers around.

Dirty Little Preachers, for which a video has been released, brings the tempo down a notch but allows for more precision over chaos, ensuring the song has as much punch as each of its predecessors and the EP draws to a close with the punkier After Hours, which maintains the huge choruses present and contains a riff so dirty from guitarist Kray Zellinger that if it were physical people would write on it with their finger like a white van covered in dust; what this also means is the EP finished just as strongly as it starts.

It’s always a treat to hear a band so young playing with as much spunk, vigour and conviction as they can muster, and if LIQUID STATE can keep riding the wave that Save Yourself will afford them into a full release, the future looks very rosy indeed.

Rating: 8/10

Save Yourself is set for release on July 6th via self-release.

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