Junebug’s latest release shows variety and strength, with a record that relies heavily on bold rock tunes and powerful vocals without sounding passé.
The first track, ‘Wild’ is an exciting opener, with an abstract intro that slowly builds to rocking guitars, a hammering piano tune and an intense vocal, topped off with a distorted vocal and a heavier guitar solo in the final climb.
‘Your Flame’ is a lighter, folkier song that has a really catchy melody and fun, skipping drum work; it’s an effortless and smooth track, a tune that will most definitely get stuck in your head.
As a follow-up, ‘The Mill’ is quite the contrast as a good old-fashioned gritty rock song that features some magnificent guitar riffs and a searing guitar solo.
‘Like Clockwork’ begins with an equally memorable triumphant guitar riff and is a very successful combination of the best elements from its preceding tracks, adding a distinctive funky base tone and a journey of progressions – an undoubtedly brilliant piece.
The final track, ‘By Your Side’, slows the pace right down, as a closer, the tranquil and melancholic acoustic track that features some atmospheric vocal distortions and spacious strings, does not quite match the mood of the rest of the album, although it is by no means an unpleasant or uninteresting addition.
Into the Wild is overall a powerful EP that provides considerable variety and proves Junebug’s prowess at writing both edgy rock songs and melodic folk pieces.
Words: Silja Slepnjov
