With tinny riffing and a Northern whine, 'Drop The Decade' doesn't boast great things from its outset. Shut Your Eyes And You'll Burst Into Flames have their hearts and influences in the right place, citing later Q And Not U and These Arms Are Snakes, but the fact that you'll hear regrettable vocal effects and that hi-hat laden beat over its remaining few minutes doesn't do them any favours. It's a servicable piece of melodic post-punk with a chorus that will no doubt pump many a fist into the air, but it's nothing new.
'I Will Meditate and Then I Will Destroy You' trumps the main offering, however. A multi-layered throwdown with battling vocal rounds, stop-start rhythms and a filthy growl of guitars, it only falls apart slightly with a misplaced cowbell and lead vocalist Fran's continually grating yelp. It's the track that suggests most what Shut Your Eyes.. could be capable of with a little more time and focus, and a little less blind devotion to their heroes.
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6Jesus Chigley's Score