While working on the bands last album, last years Acts Of Fear And love, Slaves wanted to keep that record as lean and tight as possible. All killer and no filler as they say. That resulted in the duo having a few ideas and tracks left over after the release, things which wouldn't necessarily have worked on the record or unfinished ideas that didn't have time to blossom, hence this EP. Unfortunately, these odds and ends feel just like that - unfinished.
The opener is the most fully formed of the bunch. It's a track about being trapped in your home town and the rather unpleasant people you inevitably meet there, titled One More Day Won't Hurt. Supposedly inspired by the group's attempt at making a grime beat, the song sounds like typical Slaves. Isaac Holman's angry, shouted vocals sit on top of his thunderous drumming and Laurie Vincent's grimy, heavy guitar riffs. While the track is as loud as any punk song, it crescendos massively towards the end.
The other tracks don't really come close to matching this. The following song is a short thrashing punk jam called It Makes Me Sick, but doesn't really match the humour of the likes of Fuck The Hi-Hat (a similarly loud and short tune). The title track is easily the most forgettable, slowing the pace down with a twangy country-style acoustic guitar, and that's it. The melody is simple and forgettable, the lyrics are simple. There's just not much there to latch on to. The closing track is also slower, being a heartfelt piano balled with some engaging lyrics. However, there's nothing else introduced into the song and it doesn't really go anywhere. It really feels like it could've been expanded upon into a really great song.
It's a shame this EP feels unfinished, because the basis is here for some good songs, especially with the band branching out into new territory with the last two tracks. As it stands, it is fine. While perfectly listenable, it just feels rather unimportant.
Top Tracks: One More Day Wont Hurt
5/10
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