To call Broken Witt Rebels England’s answer to Kings of Leon is to do them a disservice, but it’s also not a comment without merit. Both bands deal in the type of large-chorused classic rock that seems to have been capturing everyone’s attention in the last decade and both bands have infused that influence with the spirit of the blues and a healthy dose of Deep South Americana. Hailing from Birmingham, Broken Witt Rebels certainly do much to spread their influences far beyond the industrial land mass their city represents and, in doing so, they’ve tapped into a varied, eclectic range of influences that appeals to an audience far beyond the confines of their region. ‘Georgia Pine’ is the band’s latest EP, following hot on the heels of the ‘howlin’’ EP, the lead single of which (‘shake me down’) made a huge stir amidst the likes of Classic Rock, Fred Perry and indie Shuffle. In short, this rootsy, British band are making something of a name for themselves and ‘Georgia Pine’, the band’s third EP, looks set to help the band maintain their skyward trajectory.
Opening with ‘low’, the Broken Witt Rebels unleash a riff worthy of Sabbath before taking it in an altogether more bluesy direction that draws on influences as disparate as Zeppelin, The Who and even the music of the Chain Gang to create something that is rough, raw and yet soulful at the same time. It’s a hell of a start and it does much to explain the band’s surging popularity. ‘Suzie’ is a scratchy pop-blues number that sees that Kings of Leon connection gain credence with its swarthy lead and emotion-drenched vocal, although even here influences as diverse as Janis Joplin can be spotted. The Ep’s title track takes a nimble bass line, guitars that owe as much to British indie as to Americana and a taut vocal to deliver a track that could easily see the band notch up a chart hit, although the darker heart of ‘Getaway man’ is more likely to be the track that sees festivals up and down the country fall head over heels in love with the band. A track that moves from naked vocal to the sort of grandstanding, anthemic workout that could fill a stadium, ‘Getaway man’ shows Broken Witt Rebels to be the sort of rampantly ambitious young band that could easily go the distance. The EP ends with ‘guns’, a rippling track with a tough, dance-floor friendly beat that will see venues heaving to the pulse even as the band unleash yet another epic chorus that does its best to lodge itself firmly in your cranium.
Broken Witt Rebels have tapped into a vein of music that has becoming increasingly popular in recent years. Referencing numerous bands from the last four decades, there’re elements of blues, hard rock, soul and alternative all wrapped up in this beautifully packaged and produced EP. Most crucially, Broken Witt Rebels are edging toward success on their own terms, their music clearly the result of late night jam sessions and a life-long passion for music that has resulted in each member absorbing influences that have informed their music without setting out its path in stone. The result is a varied and frequently excellent EP that sees the band edging towards a debut full-length where they can truly develop their own unique sound to its fullest potential. As it is, ‘Georgia Pine’ is a hugely enjoyable EP and yet another step towards a well-deserved success for the band.
