Days Ago
Mantrap The Surveyors (And Kiss The Weathergirls)

Spittin' fiery blood and screaming venomously indecipherable abuse, Days Ago return to recording ways after a lengthy hiatus with this four-track EP. The Norwich outfit have suffered the ups and downs of breaks both upwards and down, trips to overseas climes and the stress of incorporating new members into their riotous fray, but not once does this release fracture under such strains; if anything, the backstory adversity only empowers the convincing post-hardcore spread over its 17 minutes.

The utterly believable truth is that these songs won't punish the grey matter through their compositional complexities; however indebted to the more technically astute purveyors of the genre this lot are, their polyrhythms exist only in the shadows of elders. Still, it matters not when the rock they deliver is so sizable: opener 'Flatliners As Deceivers' is a wonderfully chaotic affair, while even the melodious interludes of the following 'Jasmine' bear smiles of razorsharp gnashers.

As songs peak, it's easy to rush into comparisons with acts residing in both Blighty and abroad - Since By Man, Eden Maine, Beecher, Converge and Glassjaw are represented in riff form - but Days Ago have their art finely honed to the point where such reference points are not made to slight, but rather to commend the accomplished songwriting talents on display. Buy, mosh, sweat, smile. Simple.