Niis - 'Play Niis' EP Review

20 minutes ago

2 min read

Tracklist:

1. Bad Aim

2. Big Fish Baby

3. Earthquakes

4. Take Your Mess

5. No Flowers

6. Westside

LA band Niis release their most EP 'Play Niis' this coming Friday the 23rd of October on Rise Records having recently signed to them.

They formed in 2020 and after lots of well received music finally released their debut album last year, 2025, called Niis world.

Their music is a mix of indie, punk and guitar driven pop. Nothing they do seems to be relaxed, there is a huge intensity to their music, it’s not for the easy listening brigade but it’s all the better for that. There is a subtle changing of approach on this EP though, the introduction of some vulnerability, the suggestion despite all the confrontation there is a more nuanced band appearing.

Personally I think lead vocalist Mimi Doe is actually more impactful when she pulls back from the almost screaming lyrics and focuses on getting her message across in a more melodic manner. I understand the rage and it does work but they will need to develop shades of intensity in their music to impact a wider audience.

'Big Fish Baby' is a prime example of what they are capable of, it’s a brilliant song, reminiscent of prime Garbage or Skunk Anansie. The band are tight, the music a perfect springboard for Mimi to sell the lyrics and she does that impeccably. I know she does go to the angrier end of her vocals during it but it works. The band they most remind me of though is Dead Pony but there are differences, I think there is a clear space for Niis to take over and make their own.

I hadn’t heard of Niis before listening to this EP so had to do some research on their back catalogue, for me, this is their strongest work to date and a sign of a band moving forward, developing and starting to discover a real niche for themselves, more of the same please!

The most recent single from the EP, 'No Flowers', is the second strongest song on here, I can very much see mosh pits forming and bodies being thrown about, it feels like a song that will get a live audience getting so into it that they forget to be uptight and just let themselves go.

At 6 songs the EP is short but almost perfectly formed. They are touring the States shortly, time for a UK visit?