A Place to Bury Strangers – Onwards to the Wall

Ostensibly a chance to flex their chops with new bassist Dion Lunadon, the stripped-down attack of this self-produced EP offers a predictably visceral listening experience but feels like something of a step backwards after the artfully crafted maelstrom of 2009’s Exploding Head LP. The shoegaze influence gets dialled back in favour of a lean, propulsive garage rock vibe and the band sound as tight as they ever have, but underneath the sheets of noise and reverb these tracks are frustratingly pedestrian.

Oliver Ackermann’s vocals remain stuck in JAMC cover band territory, his lyrics a miasma of drab neuroses; his delivery articulating nothing much above and beyond: ‘Im a vaguely frustrated dude with sinus problems’. Longtime fans will get a kick out of this EP but really this band should be pushing themselves harder right now. Album number three will be make or break for these guys.