Originally a duo, Naked Six may have gained a third member, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that their EP sounds like a veritable army of guitar-wielding psychopaths, each layering elements of punk, blues and stoner over a beat so cataclysmic you’ll feel it in your bowels. The Manxhester-based group certainly hit the ground running with the cockily-titled no compromise – a five-track EP with killer artwork and a surfeit of attitude.
Kicking off with the fuzzy title track, Naked Six unveil a strong leaning towards early QOTSA coupled with elements of mid-90s alt rock, a distorted voice ringing out loud over a cacophonous backdrop of crushing drums and grinding riffs. It’s a good start, the band juxtaposing the woozy, stoned vocals with electrifying bursts of noise, as if making a pitch for Steve Albini to produce their next effort. The band summon the spirit of Iggy Pop on the vivacious Tear away, Seb Byford remarkably managing to avoid tripping over syllables as he spits out the lyrics like machine gun bullets over a frantic, punk-infused white-out that sparks and burns with real ferocity. Things slow down for Let it out, Seb leading with the sparkly, slightly distorted tone of a valve amp working overtime. Boasting a genuine pop hook and a touch of blues soul, it showcases a different side to the band and underscores the impressive song-writing that lies at the heart of the EP. Next up, the sparky riff of Unwind sees the band plunging back into pure rock heaven in a manner reminiscent of Urusei Yatsura at their most explosive. Unhinged and energetic, the key to the track is the distorted-yet-melodic vocal that drives the verse, and there’s a sense of release that comes with the climactic riffs that will have you leaping around the room in delight. The EP ends with the Who am I to you, another track that demonstrates just how open-ended the band’s list of influences are.
Despite a remarkably coherent sound, no compromise genre-hops with inventive skill and style over the course of its five tracks. Punk, blues, grunge and stoner all rub shoulders together, always tethered by the band’s ability to craft an infectious melody, even amidst the most electrifying guitar assault. What really stands out is how passionate the band clearly are about playing the music they love, and it’s impossible to listen to the EP and not feel the excitement as the band slash and burn everything around them. A pretty-much perfect introduction to the band, it will be interesting to see how Naked Six expand their sonic palette over the course of a full-length, but for now, this is a mighty fine effort. 8
LIVE DATES:
8/11/2018 Rescue Rooms, Nottingham UK
10/11/2018 Borderline, London UK
12/11/2018 King Tuts, Glasgow UK
13/11/2018 Rebellion, Manchester UK
14/11/2018 Exchange, Bristol UK
FOLLOW NAKED SIX:
https://www.facebook.com/NAK3D.SIX/
