A fixture on the Liverpool punk scene, championed by Antipop Records, Def Club and us here at Yeah Buddy! the debut album by Elmo & The Styx is anticipated as highly as any other release on the unsigned circuit for quite some time.
Packed full of pop, rock, alt, prog and punk treasures that leave you with no time to think, only enough time to flail along before you are thrown into the next banger.
‘Happy’ kicks off with the frantic and frenzied ‘Blood Soup’. What strikes me most about this intro is the way the band lays it all on the line from the rapid drums and blistering guitar to the calculatedly strained, wailing vocals. This song embodies everything that has gotten Elmo & The Styx this far with so much support and enthusiasm behind them and is certainly the most appropriate way to kick off their debut album.
‘Male Pride’ follows up and is a tongue in cheek ode to the age of the lad. The subject matter here is embodied perfectly in the rowdy and raucous recorded performance. Elmo screaming ‘Go on lad’ in classic Northern English alpha-male fashion leads us into a clattering and rambunctious number which features immediate vocal hooks that will have you loutishly howling along.
‘2001’ is yet another impactful tune that keeps the album driving along nicely past its first quarter. By this point you will be already looking forward the second and third play throughs of ‘Happy’, you wanna hear this tracks again straight away but tough shit coz you wanna hear whats next too much.
‘Skin’ is my personal favourite of this whole album. It works on so many levels; as a song all on its own it is brilliantly written and displays E&TS’ dynamic song-writing skill. As a part of the album it demonstrates how much thought has gone into the flow and structures of ‘Happy’ as it breaks up the high-energy tracks perfectly.
At the halfway point I am thanking ‘Skin’ for giving me the chance to catch my breather before ‘Incorrect’ hauls me straight back into the circle pit and has me running holes in the soles of my Vans.
‘In Your Hole’ keeps the pace with the clashing guitars and drums, gradually getting faster and louder from the start until we hear Elmo screaming ‘I hope your proud of me, I am in your hole’. This track is a prime example of how much of an awesome team E&TS are, the beats and riffs change so many times along with the tempo, it is hard for me as the listener to keep up so I don’t know how in fuck these guys actually play it. Sick!
“My true face is a spider, lurking in the shadows. Trespassers it swallows”, ‘My True Face’ represents Elmo at his most introspective and unhinged. The story of Elmo’s duplicitousness is told to the backdrop of spiralling and clashing guitars that resemble some kind of personality clash to a tee.
‘Bearded Lady’ keeps the momentum as things continue to drive toward the climax of the album. This tune is another fine example of E&TS’ tight and endlessly rehearsed songcraft.
Things pick up no end next with the introduction of ‘Milk’ to the album. Certainly the most ferocious and visceral song on the album, twisting and winding along with Elmo’s wailing and growling vocals and merciless drums. Certainly another highlight of ‘Happy’ and another welcome change of pace just as we reach the finale in ‘Dust’.
‘Dust’ gives me the idea of some kind of mash-up between The Offspring and early 90’s slackerness a-la Dinosaur Jr/ Sebadoh, this being the final track it is the only time I have come close to finding any solid resemblance and even then it probably isn’t very accurate.
Those showing their support to the E&TS cause by purchasing this awesome album a rewarded with a chilling secret track to round off this fantastic album. ‘Chloe’s Booty’ hones the kind of claustrophobic creepiness that gives you phantom itches all over your body. The vocal lead is taken over by guitarist Rob here as he calmly and disconcertingly sings about a girl he has chained up in his basement. This one is definitely worth the short silent wait following ‘Dust’ so make sure you’re patient and fight the urge to turn ‘Happy’ right back to the beginning and go again before it’s over.
All in all this is one finely structured and impressively written debut from Elmo & The Styx, it is one that deserves to be heard by a wide audience so if you are feeling the same as us then don’t be cool and hang onto it for when these guys break big, pass it on and share the love. I can totally understand the anticipation that is beckoning the launch of this album and all I can say is, you guys are in for a treat.
‘Happy’ will be launched officially at Mello Mello in Liverpool on April 24th. The Event will be hosted by the punk rock partystarters Antipop along with Free Rock n’ Roll which means its fucking free. Support will come in the shape of Dick Venom and The Terrotones and Enamel Animal, it’s going to be pretty heavy so get on it.
‘Happy’ will be released on April 28th and will be available on CD and download across all major online portals and mail order. Keep your eyes on the site and we will let you know where to go once the time comes little ferret’s.
Krystian Hudson
Packed full of pop, rock, alt, prog and punk treasures that leave you with no time to think, only enough time to flail along before you are thrown into the next banger.
‘Happy’ kicks off with the frantic and frenzied ‘Blood Soup’. What strikes me most about this intro is the way the band lays it all on the line from the rapid drums and blistering guitar to the calculatedly strained, wailing vocals. This song embodies everything that has gotten Elmo & The Styx this far with so much support and enthusiasm behind them and is certainly the most appropriate way to kick off their debut album.
‘Male Pride’ follows up and is a tongue in cheek ode to the age of the lad. The subject matter here is embodied perfectly in the rowdy and raucous recorded performance. Elmo screaming ‘Go on lad’ in classic Northern English alpha-male fashion leads us into a clattering and rambunctious number which features immediate vocal hooks that will have you loutishly howling along.
‘2001’ is yet another impactful tune that keeps the album driving along nicely past its first quarter. By this point you will be already looking forward the second and third play throughs of ‘Happy’, you wanna hear this tracks again straight away but tough shit coz you wanna hear whats next too much.
‘Skin’ is my personal favourite of this whole album. It works on so many levels; as a song all on its own it is brilliantly written and displays E&TS’ dynamic song-writing skill. As a part of the album it demonstrates how much thought has gone into the flow and structures of ‘Happy’ as it breaks up the high-energy tracks perfectly.
At the halfway point I am thanking ‘Skin’ for giving me the chance to catch my breather before ‘Incorrect’ hauls me straight back into the circle pit and has me running holes in the soles of my Vans.
‘In Your Hole’ keeps the pace with the clashing guitars and drums, gradually getting faster and louder from the start until we hear Elmo screaming ‘I hope your proud of me, I am in your hole’. This track is a prime example of how much of an awesome team E&TS are, the beats and riffs change so many times along with the tempo, it is hard for me as the listener to keep up so I don’t know how in fuck these guys actually play it. Sick!
“My true face is a spider, lurking in the shadows. Trespassers it swallows”, ‘My True Face’ represents Elmo at his most introspective and unhinged. The story of Elmo’s duplicitousness is told to the backdrop of spiralling and clashing guitars that resemble some kind of personality clash to a tee.
‘Bearded Lady’ keeps the momentum as things continue to drive toward the climax of the album. This tune is another fine example of E&TS’ tight and endlessly rehearsed songcraft.
Things pick up no end next with the introduction of ‘Milk’ to the album. Certainly the most ferocious and visceral song on the album, twisting and winding along with Elmo’s wailing and growling vocals and merciless drums. Certainly another highlight of ‘Happy’ and another welcome change of pace just as we reach the finale in ‘Dust’.
‘Dust’ gives me the idea of some kind of mash-up between The Offspring and early 90’s slackerness a-la Dinosaur Jr/ Sebadoh, this being the final track it is the only time I have come close to finding any solid resemblance and even then it probably isn’t very accurate.
Those showing their support to the E&TS cause by purchasing this awesome album a rewarded with a chilling secret track to round off this fantastic album. ‘Chloe’s Booty’ hones the kind of claustrophobic creepiness that gives you phantom itches all over your body. The vocal lead is taken over by guitarist Rob here as he calmly and disconcertingly sings about a girl he has chained up in his basement. This one is definitely worth the short silent wait following ‘Dust’ so make sure you’re patient and fight the urge to turn ‘Happy’ right back to the beginning and go again before it’s over.
All in all this is one finely structured and impressively written debut from Elmo & The Styx, it is one that deserves to be heard by a wide audience so if you are feeling the same as us then don’t be cool and hang onto it for when these guys break big, pass it on and share the love. I can totally understand the anticipation that is beckoning the launch of this album and all I can say is, you guys are in for a treat.
‘Happy’ will be launched officially at Mello Mello in Liverpool on April 24th. The Event will be hosted by the punk rock partystarters Antipop along with Free Rock n’ Roll which means its fucking free. Support will come in the shape of Dick Venom and The Terrotones and Enamel Animal, it’s going to be pretty heavy so get on it.
‘Happy’ will be released on April 28th and will be available on CD and download across all major online portals and mail order. Keep your eyes on the site and we will let you know where to go once the time comes little ferret’s.
Krystian Hudson