With a super-imaginative name for their split tape release, Deathcats and Shithawks’ Shit Death highlights some of the best raw, loud music Scotland has to offer.
Each band offer two tracks, with Deathcats on side one and Shithawks on side two.
Deathcats’ ‘Danny Dyer’ begins the release with a thunderous riff before a change of tempo turns the song from something that resembles grunge, to jumpy, lo-fi punk, an excellent transition that should be done more often, if you ask me.
‘Melted’ features more of the same, another great garage song with reverb soaked vocals, boisterous riffs and basslines.
Deathcats take the best bits of lo-fi, indie punk and make music that screams at you to turn it up and bounce about with a can of Red Stripe.
Shithawks first track ‘Chill Black/Cool Out’ gives off a slightly different vibe, the first half is pure, fibrous blues-driven music easily comparable to the White Stripes. meanwhile second half is a lot rougher, with a punching guitar riff and some rough bluesy vocals.
However, the Dundee three-piece turn it up another few notches for second track ‘Hang Loose’, which is a discordant, angry two-minutes of biting punk music.
Overall, Shit Death is the product of two exciting bands, dabbling in many subdivisions of garage-rock.
The outcome is a thrilling, exciting tape that displays vast amounts of promise for both acts.
Words: Neil Hayton
