As an avid lover of the rock genre, I found myself immediately captivated by German band Mr Brown’s music. Their four-track EP, Hate Songs EP, is jam packed with a number of different rock and roll genres, including alt rock, modern rock, garage rock, indie and punk, making for an immense overall sound.
By Jane Howkins
The EP opens with some fantastic buzzsaw guitar riffs on track Like 1986. The song switches between a set of lighter verses and some heavier instrumental bits, although the rhythm remains frantic throughout, never really letting up. The vocals have a higher tone than expected, but they suit the garage rock vibes well, with the fuzzy guitars adding a cool sense of attitude to the music.
I Hate You And I Wanna Hate You More has quite an interesting title, fitting the themes of the EP well. This is more of a punk rock song, harking back to the classic punk movement of the 1970s and 1980s. It’s really fast, but it’s also got quite a melodic feel as well, with the combined vocal harmonies on the chorus creating a singalong quality within the track.
Teacher is another fast-tempo song – the lyrics are fairly repetitive but they work really well with the style of music. The eccentric nature of the music and the almost shouted vocals reminded me a lot of the hardcore punk scene, although with a slightly more harmonious sound. The track breaks down occasionally, allowing the intense guitar work to really shine through.
Lucky Strike closes things out nicely, taking elements from all the previous tracks. The production quality is rather raw at times, but it works well with the style of music, allowing the groovy guitar licks to really shine through. The energy is kept high throughout this amazing tune, with the drums sounding particularly impressive to me! It’s a great ending track, leaving you wanting for more!
If you’re into your punk rock, then Mr Brown is the band for you! Hate Songs EP has a glorious old school punk sound, and I bet these guys sound fantastic live!
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