Since their formation in 2015, emo punk band Brackish have always drawn from a nostalgic sound. On the self titled album from 2022, the pop punk influence of Get Up Kids can be found jostling alongside even more emo-centric elements, creating something that’s both punchy and melodic. Despite some of the vocals being a little more off-kilter than might be considered ideal, the record supplied thirty one minutes of top drawer riffs, throwing the listener into a musical landscape that showed how, sometimes, it’s better to take an established sound and recycle it well than try to create something completely new.
In terms of keeping things firmly old school, the band’s ‘Rear View’ EP re-applies the theory that “you can’t fix what ain’t broke”, but if anything has a much punchier sound. The opening track, ‘Threatening’, in particular, shows off a great band with some sharp, brilliantly punky edges. From the second the main guitar riff kicks in – a hefty dual rhythm, supplied by Tim Fitzpatrick and Connor Byrne – the track sounds like a true force. The punky edges call back to ‘Letch Con Carne’ era No Use For A Name crossed with something a little more buoyant, which suits both the choppier elements of the rhythm guitar and Connor’s lead vocal perfectly. The chorus cranks the tension with a few broader vocal strains, before the speed gives way to a slow, chugging breakdown that hints at a punk/melodic hardcore blend, stoking up the drums and allowing the vocal to stretch out. Here, the listener will get a sense of a band capable of cranking tension, but it also has the knock on effect of making the speedier riffs feel even tighter upon their return. With the faster moments occasionally capturing some of the spirit of Nirvana’s crashier numbers – and specifically ‘Territorial Pissings’ – this is a perfect two minute blast of punkiness.
‘Lay Down’ isn’t quite as forceful, but still brings plenty to enjoy. It opens with a crashing melodic hardcore riff which, when overlaid by a dense layer of extra guitar and driven by a solid rhythm, shows off a really intense sound. Part hardcore and part post rock, the music crosses more boundaries for Brackish than ever before, and once an emo inflected vocal rises, the track becomes even more interesting. The voice’s clean-ish tone contrasts well with the heavier aspects, and despite latching onto a different kind of emotion, their mood feels no less intense. There’s a vaguely punky rhythm driving a crashy chorus, which brings yet another angle to the track’s intense world of riffs, and when the punky elements slide into another hardcore breakdown, Brackish hit a hard groove that’s hard to beat. As with the elements leading up to this point, these riffs don’t stick around for long, and the mood changes yet again to share a slower and more emo-centric sound which really fits the voice. The original riff eventually makes a return to make everything feel a little more rounded, but overall, these three minutes convey a kitchen sink approach to sharing ideas. Not that it makes ‘Lay Down’ feel at all directionless; if anything, it’s a superb showcase for the musicians, and a great example of a band making some massive riffs really connect with their audience.
In closing, the title cut changes the mood rather dramatically when Connor and Tim deliver a mid tempo guitar riff that adds more of a 90s indie quality to the band’s emo palate. The vocals ensure it remains “obviously Brackish”, but there’s a much bigger concession to radio-friendly melodies throughout. The way a clean lead guitar is given room to slip between the choppier riffs is interesting and also rather uplifting, but the track really comes into its own once Zach Miller’s drums hit upon a militaristic rhythm, before the volume increases and the trio lay down an instrumental interlude where tight emo and melodic hardcore elements pull together to create something more of a noughties persuasion. Naturally, the guitars dominate once more, but listen more closely and you’ll also discover bassist Nick Rosica adding extra depth to the huge blanket of sound. It might be more commercial, but it’s another important recording in terms of showing off Brackish’s sheer musical range.
This EP is devastatingly short, but the three featured tracks showcase Brackish at their best. For fans, it’ll be a more than welcome return, but it’s those potential new listeners who’ll have the most to gain here: with each being different from the preceding number, it plays like a musical CV in some ways, but without feeling directionless. It’s good to have Brackish back again. ‘Rear View’ isn’t just a recommended listen; it shares a near perfect trio of songs from a quartet of musicians who now sound better than ever.
August 2024