It seems the Southampton self-confessed moody punks have found the formula for portraying the tormented, tortured yet defiant soul. Following 2013’s self-explanatory ’Creepy EP’, ‘Reasons Not To Sleep’ adds an aggressive, darker atmosphere to their previously raw punk riffs, combining self-criticism with an anguish exclusively known to punk.
Opening on the punchy contagion ‘DNR’, gang vocals and disillusioned melodies herald a revival of Bullets-era MCR and AFI. “Strike me off the chart, shut me down and put me on a DNR” cries frontman Alex Marshall, although thankfully, their resuscitation of the emo traditions of the ‘00s proves more than welcome.
“This isn’t who we are,” calls out ‘Gradients Of Grey’, its undeniable passion driven by authoritative drums from Jack Donnelly. The ethereal opening of ‘Disparate, Desperate’ adds colossal depth to a melodic tune reminiscent of Panic! At The Disco, while the energetic ‘Shogun Queen’ defiantly treads an anarchic territory, perfectly suitable to skate to.
Lead single ‘How Much Further’ belts a stretched-out surreal solo, providing an opportunity to reflect and step the tone down to contemplative levels before their energy bursts back to the fore. “Don’t blame it on yourself,” cries self-deprecating and cleverly titled closer ‘You Can’t Spell Blame Without Me’, defining an atmosphere of insularity that suits their compelling gloom.
If you needed any more ’Reasons Not To Sleep’, Miss Vincent have defined their capability to deliver the best of the punk realms they know inside-out, suggesting they have plenty more energy to deliver in future.
3.5/5
’Reasons Not To Sleep’ EP by Miss Vincent is out now on Engineer Records.
Miss Vincent links: Facebook|Twitter|Bandcamp
Words by Ali Cooper (@AliZombie_)
