EP REVIEW: The Fix – Eva Plays Dead

There’s just something about the Midlands – particularly over recent years – when it comes to the tsunami of musical talent surging out of this thriving region. And one band that are currently riding high on that wave right now is EVA PLAYS DEAD. The Nottingham / Derby rockers are hardly strangers to the scene, having toured their collective derrieres off nationwide supporting the likes of SKINDRED and BLACK PEAKS to name a few.

Whereas predecessor Sounds Of The Written Word often lacked the fervent vitality expected from a band with so much obvious potency, there’s an unmistakable sense of resurgence raging throughout sophomore EP The Fix – and with 100% of their total PledgeMusic campaign smashed within two weeks, its time for this self-professed “no nonsense” quartet to truly stake their claim as the antidote to sonic pretention.

Hurtling out of the gates from the offset, opener Spin is the equivalent of a colossal hit of dirty rock ‘n’ roll plunged straight into the veins. Harnessing lush, layered harmonies combined with passionate melodic bursts and riotous guitars, it’s an irrepressible combination of the raw and the raucous. This sentiment flows into evocative lead track Get Back as inimitable frontwoman Tiggy Dockerty (whose ongoing battle with bipolar disorder became public knowledge) tackles her demons in a quest for artistic catharsis; searing lyrics like “Here lies a chemical high / looking down so misty eyed” and “I started the party / But no-one turned up” inject a poignancy which many will undoubtedly relate to, whilst pummelling beats and bass rumbles keep the energy intact.

Splicing unadulterated hard rock and punk sensibilities, the insatiable stomp of earworm Colours will lodge itself deep within your cranium whilst Bones’ unashamed alt-pop appeal and huge choruses will prove impossible to resist in a live setting. Rounding off the five-track barrage is Monogamy serving up a plethora of driving riffs and thunderous vocals underpinned by sticksman Seb Boyse’s imposing drumming.

With its effortless juxtaposition of the fearless and the fierce, The Fix isn’t merely the next step in EVA PLAYS DEAD‘s journey but a no-holds-barred leap into classic rock reinvention.

Rating: 8/10

The Fix is set for release on April 27th via Playing Dead Records.

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