EP REVIEW: unpeople – unpeople

PRESS TO MECO were one of British rock’s arguably most undersung bands, but with their dissolution rises UNPEOPLE, who generated enough buzz to garner an immediate signing to SharpTone Records and a slot at the prestigious 2000Trees before they’d released a note. Now they’re about to release their debut, self-titled EP and naturally, there’s a lot of expectation around whether the outfit live up to the buzz and reputation that’s preceded them. 

Opener waste should put those doubts to rest pretty sharp; its riff swaggers into view self-assuredly, knowing what it’s got. It’s a party starter of a riff make no mistake, and the dry lyrics of “Shot yourself in the foot with the starting gun / Good going” are delivered with a smirk. It’s the kind of anthemic alt rock that straddles the borderline with metal in sonic weight. Elsewhere, overthinking dials up the band’s spin on Britpop influences with an opening programmed drum pattern that echoes BLUR or even GORILLAZ. 

Something their former band was beloved for were their layered vocal harmonies; UNPEOPLE haven’t lost this but they’ve also dialled up the heavy. smother ends with a vitriolic near-breakdown after screams of “I think I’m feeling the pressure”. UNPEOPLE excel at crafting those arena-worthy hooks, like the slower burning going numb, and by the end being able to drop in some hellacious screams and drumming that acts as the battering ram force behind the fuzzy, gloriously heavy guitars. 

The only real issue with unpeople is its aforementioned tendency to often build to a climactic, stomping end with scuzzy guitars and screams. But they’re damned good at it, and when the EP is a taut 20 minutes, the desire to hit hard is understandable, and hit hard UNPEOPLE do. The most exciting thing about this taster is what it hints at the band being able to do when they decide to release a full-length like the moments of tenderness hinted at on going numb, or an ear for choral harmonic melodies like those that offer a false start on closer moon baboon. But as a starting point? unpeople is bloody good, and shows a band more than capable of delivering on their hype. 

Rating: 8/10

unpeople is set for release on April 19th via SharpTone Records.

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