‘90s-style rock has been making a phoenix-like resurgence of late, with bands opting for the more visceral, organic sounds of grunge and punk than electronic-based trickery. Dublin’s Fangclub are the latest of this crop looking to making an impression, but describing them as ‘just another band’ is doing them a huge disservice – new EP ‘Bullet Head’ could easily see them vault over the competition to scene leader status.

From the off, Fangclub are fairly easy to have sussed – loose, almost oppressively gritty grunge-punk fusions that are as captivating as can be. For only five tracks, the trio have given plenty of reasons why it’s worth keeping an eye on them. The title track and ‘Psycho’ power on with steamrolling riffs and Steven King’s wonderfully clear vocals, and closer ‘Role Models’ is a real earworm with its hook of “Role models, role models / How did you get so hollow?”.

It’s not a million miles away from what bands like The Dirty Nil are doing, but with a heavier onus on teeth-rattling riffs than speed. Not a thing about this EP feels even remotely contrived or like a band simply fishing for Facebook likes – this is all genuinely passionate stuff, pulled off spectacularly.

Obviously a release or two more will be needed to experience the full breadth of Fangclub’s work, but ‘Bullet Head’ is as promising as early impressions go – this is truly bracing stuff from a band with a serious future ahead of them. Remember the name – pretty soon you won’t be able to escape it.

4/5

‘Bullet Head’ EP by Fangclub is released on 13th May via Universal Records.

Fangclub links: Website|Facebook|Twitter|Bandcamp

Words by Luke Nuttall (@nuttall_luke)