Play Dead Zine Live Review (April 2005 Issue)
Patient Zero, EDT, Kamikazee all dropped out, but at least openers Montana were there to ease the pain. Well...I'm not sure 'ease' is the right word. These Coventry boys specialise in the kind of lethal off-kilter riffs that buzz and squeal like a swarm of mutant killer bees, while tracks like 'Telephone Girls' contrast things nicely with some startling mood swings, switching from such migraine-inducing spazz to a lumbering down-tuned pound that's made all the more terrifying thanks to the imposing figure of lead singer Tank bulldozing his way through the crowd to stare at me eye to eye and shriek lyrics like "how did he end up in my place? is this a game?" Heart stuttering stuff indeed.
Collective-Zine Demo Review
“When Larry Met Rita” goes off like a fucking firework in your face. A crash of slammed percussion and busted strings before it snaps into a tight bout of guitar scree, pounding drums and intense yelling, this is as rousing a 90-second call to arms as you’d expect to get from a young Midlands-based band (the poor bastards are from Coventry, or possibly Nuneaton. Either way, bad luck chaps). They take their cues from the more popular form of modern straight-up hardcore that is doing the rounds right now and temper it with some wilfully experimental Jesus Lizard-esque noisiness, waltz-time passages and choice Botch-like shifts in song arrangements. I’m not so hot on it when there are clean guitar breaks, or when there’s too much in the way of an epic build-up, but I’m just in an impatient mood right now, and I’m sure the variety will be much-welcomed in the long-term. The musicianship is highly proficient – a rock-solid rhythm section, interesting guitar lines, well roared vocals – yet they’re efficient and not overtly showy. The production is very nicely executed considering it’s a demo and all in all it’s a simply but effectively presented little record. Look out for a 7” and UK tour later on this year. I’m looking forward to both! - Kunal
www.collective-zine.co.uk
