Videotapes. is a London-based alternative rock act who take their cues from the likes of At The Drive-in, Mogwai and Fugazi. Relatively new to the scene, they released their first single howl (for jane doe) in May. But it’s through their two track EP forest/fire that they’ve caught my attention.
By Graeme Smith
Opening with fire, the EP is instantly explosive. Lively riffs hit you straight away, before the track hits a juddering rhythm of loud/quiet contrast. The real power comes from the vocals and lyrics though. They paint a dystopian picture that feels all too much like the world in which we are currently living.
Forest, by contrast, is a moody yet urgent piece. Protest ties the two tracks together thematically, but sonically we get quite a range in this mini-EP. In forest we get punk and post-rock elements mingling with the more traditional alt rock guitar riffs.
If you’re a fan of rock with something to say and a righteous anger behind it, then you won’t go far wrong with videotapes. You can check out forest/fire below.