The title track from The New Fabian Society’s latest release (the band’s first in nearly two years) is a slow burn, crushing guitars gradually build for what seems like an eternity before erupting into a chaotic cacophony of noise.
With an outro so pandemic The Black Plague want’s a word, ‘Choke’ doesn’t overstay it’s welcome and ends with a whisper in comparison to the chaos before it.
Hairier than a weekend with two TV cooks who share a penchant for motorcycles the opening bass riff of ‘Fuck’ leaps at you from speakers; arguably the most “guns blazing” track on the release it doesn’t waste a second of its 3:12 running time.
This could be said for all of the tracks, gone are the days of 10-minute post punk epics, instead we’re getting a more focused approach.
There’s something to be said for two guys playing only five or so songs in a 30 minute set while the crowd stands entranced but it’s arguably more exciting to see a higher and more varied output from a band that’s been going nigh on five years.
As the line-up changes have taken place the band has become more refined, I’ve got a sneaking suspicion they still enjoy extending songs live, but from an EP and recorded output perspective it’s been enjoyable to see them change slightly with each release.
The closest thing we have to the band’s debut is ‘Lost Time’ and it’s the perfect example of their evolution.
Starting with a floating intro before building into a catchy yet restrained chorus (at least at first) before becoming unhinged towards the end.
You can almost hear the evolution of the band, stark minimalist post punk then gradually layers are added in, guitars come creeping in from seemingly everywhere, which help build the track to a beautiful climax.
You can see their roots from the days of Exhibition of Love flowing into the more heavily produced era of Cyclothymia and Barbarossa extending all the way into the more focused and aggressive present iteration of the band.
Influences for this record seem to (like I’ve mentioned above) lean less on the psychedelic side of their previous releases instead they really take that punk focus and run with it.
All the drums sound like they’re from an industrial rock album at times, you’d be forgiven for thinking they’re not programmed such is their consistency in aggression.
The bass takes a different approach, it changes from track to track sounding almost synth like to simply balls to the wall distortion, it covers a lot of ground, it’s nice to see a band not take a set it and forget it approach to the instrument.
Guitars are another matter altogether you could argue they’re the element which changes least throughout the EP’s length but that’s ok the arrangement and layered production lets them shine through with a little more clarity.
There’s a lot of highlights here which is great as it feels like this release has been a long time coming but there’s just something about ‘Fuck’ and ‘I Still Remember’ that feels like a step above.
This feels like another of the band’s release that might make a big impression within Scotland and hopefully the UK as a larger target.
Words: Phillip Allen
