‘…a creative fever dream of an EP that pushes punk in directions that break the very limits of the genre…’
Cult favourite punk-outfit of the Merseyside scene Lynskey have returned once more. The duo, known for their chaotic sound and engaging live shows, have put out two EPs so far, and recently supported political noise rock icons Benefits. Now the band have unleashed yet another wild collection of tracks that makes them not only worth listening to, but vital to listen to.
What Lynskey offer on ‘here, this is for you’ makes for a wild ride that defies easy categorisation, pulling threads from punk, emo, nu metal, and even mathcore to weave together a chaotic yet surprisingly nuanced sound. Playful 5/4 rhythms collide with crunching breakdowns and wildly danceable rhythms, whilst playful yet earnest musings on ADHD sit alongside a love song to Keanu Reeves.
Vocalist B’s vocal performance is a consistently shape-shifting creature, evolving through vicious screams, playful discordance, and surprisingly gorgeous melodies. It perfectly plays into the delirious nature of tracks such as the rollercoaster that is ‘You Got The Scatterbrain Perk’, with its rapidly shifting rhythms and glittering synths, and ‘Keanu’, with its ridiculous lyricism, ferocious main riff, and wonderfully jazzy bridge.
It all feels a little nonsensical, yet peeling back the absurdist veneer shows a bit pair of wildly talented and inventive musicians. Drummer Saul lays down one captivating percussive performance after another, their talents showcasing both fantastically complex showmanship and a complete understanding of how to get a person moving; truly, it is clear that they understand the rules well enough to know how to break them.
It is perhaps their closing track ‘m-m-m-METAL’ that demonstrates Lynskey’s commitment to destroying expectations best. Between the rollercoaster vocals, the nu-metal riffs, and the breakbeat-tinged rhythms, this track is a disconcerting masterclass in how to sound frankly massive as just a duo.
‘here, this is for you’ is a creative fever dream of an EP that pushes punk in directions that break the very limits of the genre; it is difficult, or perhaps even impossible, to assign a single simple label to what Lynskey have produced here. It is perhaps easy to imagine bands in ten years time citing this band as the hidden gem that inspired them.
As Keanu Reeves might say: breathtaking.
RATING: 84/100 – Very Good
For Fans Of: Crashface, Death Goals, Enter Shikari, Lure In, The Callous Daoboys
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