EP REVIEW: Self Help – Woes

Scottish pop-punk quartet WOES have been building a name for themselves over the last few years. Releasing their debut EP Woes in 2016, touring alongside bands such as NECK DEEP and FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES, and several festival appearances including Amplified Festival. Now comes the release of their second EP Self Help filled with five tracks of bouncy pop-punk enthusiasm.

From the first track High On You, it’s clear that WOES have grown and developed their sound from their debut EP. Musically, they come across more refined, each aspect of the music fitting together neater, and each member complimenting the others more. Packed with bouncy riffs, High On You is set to be a fan favourite.

Writing music is a personal process. It can be therapeutic, but also a way to vent frustrations. WOES have used this EP to explore their own personal experiences and life lessons. Real World discusses the struggles of an unhealthy relationship and the impact it has on a person. The lyrics “push the weight of your world down on me, drag me down ’til I can’t even breathe”, are ones that will resonate with listeners. The main issue with the EP is the vocals are lost under the music at times, so it loses some of that hard-hitting feeling.

In recent years, UK pop punk has experienced a resurgence, and WOES have become a strong addition to the catalogue. With tracks such as Losing Time and Over It, it makes sense as to why. Losing Time is packed with well-written lyrics that dance with the music in a superb fashion. Whilst Over It has harsh fastness complimenting delicate sections, creating a bouncy tone made for a live atmosphere. Bringing the EP to a close is HLB2 which pays homage to Drake‘s hit, Hotline Bling. Gradually building up, this track is detailed with vocalist DJ‘s emotional journey of failed relationships and the understanding that his focus on music meant there is no room for anything else. The level of honesty shown in the lyrics pull you in, it is relatable and makes you sympathise.

For such a young band at the beginning of the career, WOES have mastered one of the largest hurdles – good song writing. Lyrically, it is on a new emotional level from their previous songs. It provides as almost a therapy session for the band, but the honest nature works well to achieve a relatable soundtrack. As previously mentioned, the only real problem is the vocals need to be more prominent, as they get lost at times. Otherwise, Self Help excels as an EP from a band who understands how music needs to flow, when to bring it up and bring it back down. If their sound continues to improve as it has here, WOES are set for a path of success.

Rating: 7/10

Self Help is out now via UNFD.

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