If you’re in the mood for some sweet, rock ‘n’ roll with a funky edge, then Illustr8ors should be heading to the top of your list. Hailing from the ultra-creative hub that is Bristol, Illustr8ors have emerged phoenix-like from the flames of BlackWolf, a band who even garnered a nomination for Best New band from Classic Rock. Not so much a relaunching so much as a rebirth, this self-titled EP is likely to gain the band legions of new fans with its taut licks and impassioned vocals. There’s an excitement that flames from the band’s music that is impossible to ignore, and over four tracks you’ll find yourself falling in love with Illustr8ors whether you wish to or not.
The disc kicks off with the melodic might of ‘Your Animal’ (for which you can see the video below) and it showcases an act wholly immersed in the art of kicking out the jams as if in the grip of a fierce fever that causes them to sweat, shake, rattle and roll. No less vibrant is the multi-coloured explosion of ‘Something biblical’, a track which carries shades of At the Drive in within its gloriously hedonistic DNA. The stuttering riff of ‘Swimming with anchors’ disguises an innate gift with melody that will leave the listener singing the tune for days whilst the pummelling middle eight showcases a band unafraid to simply put their heads down and go for it when the song demands it. As the track progresses a strange doubling effect emerges as you realise that parallels with other artists abound and yet, at the same time, the band don’t really sound like anyone else, largely because their confidence and potency defies simple comparisons. The EP concludes, and far too quickly, with the bristling ‘Shush Shush’ which juxtaposes falsetto vocals and a groovy bassline with stabbing guitars and enough electricity to send sparks out of the amplifier as the song plays. As it disappears into the void, you realise just how quickly these songs have worked their way into your consciousness and, like an addict, your brain will be nagging at you until you give the disc another spin – surely the sign of a great band.
Illustr8ors defy easy categorisation. Instead, it suffices to say that this is simply the work of a great rock band in-the-making, and it’s easy to imagine the sweaty hell the band’s live performances must surely be. Hard rock with plenty of swing, there was a time when music such as this would be taking the nation’s airwaves by storm, but regardless of the changing tastes that dog the charts, there’s no question that Illustr8ors have the potential to be huge. There’s an easy charm to the four songs here and this self-titled EP stands as the perfect introduction to Illustr8ors’ many strengths. 8
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