Screech Bats - 'Wish You Were Here' EP Review

Tracklist:

1. Blood In My Hair

2. Get Better

3. Every Good Thing

4. Just Like You

5. That Valentine Song

London Punk band, the wonderfully named Screech Bats have released their sophomore EP following their eponymously titled first in 2016. It is great to hear a band that have the ability and the nous to make a massive dent in the gender imbalance that exists in todays music industry. The Screech Bats talk straightforward common sense about that imbalance and have said; “In our opinion, the whole industry needs to stop seeing gender as a genre - we need to see a shift towards just listening to the music, not having to consider what it is we have between our legs.” This is a band that truly matters in my opinion.

The EP was recorded in a Blackpool rehearsal room with James Routh of Sonic Boom Six. The band’s singer Esme Baker is also responsible for the stunning cover artwork. She has said the following about her art for the EP “Including a feminine face in the artwork to mirror the title but somehow censoring the eyes, gives the character anonymity, making whoever we are talking about a total enigma.” The Screech Bats were formed as a side project from Hearts Under Fire and the other members are drummer Lexi Clark who is supported in a really tight rhythm section by Rio Hellyer on Bass and Kit Reeve is their talented punky funky guitarist.

EP opener “Blood In My Hair” forcibly grabs you and shakes you into submission and believe me, most of you will submit easily and willingly to this fabulous fanfare of Punk as it should be. I really love Esme’s vocals particularly the English accent. I have never really understood British artists putting on an American accent.

“Get Better” seems to be a song about the aftermath of loss, particularly the loss felt from a relationship breakdown. The emotion is palpable at times in this tune. There is a powerful Pop Punk feel going on with “Every Good Thing” and the chanted harmony on the chorus towards the end harks back to 1970s punk singles. That will sound immense rolling across a festival field. The guitar soloing on “That Valentine Song” at times steps totally out of any perceived punk confines and drags 70s and 80s guitar virtuosity to the fore.

Having played the EP countless times I can hardly wait to see the Screech Bats play live now!