Hot Colossus are a pop-punk band who have declared their aim to bring back the sound of 1978. While there are elements of their ‘Saturation’ EP that evoke the music of that era, there seems to be a key ingredient missing. While bands like The Clash, The Ramones, Sex Pistols etc. unquestionably had great songs, it was their attitude that made them important. There was a genuine element of danger in their music. One song on this EP is called The Kebab King. It’s not the kind of thing that is going to have the authorities quaking in their boots. The tracks on this EP are more Teenage Kicks than Suspect Device.

Legendary BBC DJ John Peel declared Teenage Kicks the greatest song ever written, however, so that comparison could be seen as a criticism or an endorsement depending on your point of view. The dual guitar attack of I Can Show U How brings to mind Thin Lizzy, only transposed into a more pop-oriented landscape. It has enough energy to get it past its slightly clichéd lyrical shortcomings and become one of the standout tracks on the EP.

You Sound Like You’re In Love has more of a new wave sound with synth sounds more prominent in the mix. The call and response chorus vocals of “You sound like you’re in love” further emphasize the new wave feel. The remaining two tracks follow the rule of many EPs by dropping off in quality from the opening two. The longest track on the EP Mania manages to stay interesting by transitioning into a guitar breakdown and solo towards the end.

Hot Colossus have a reputation of being a good live band, but it feels like some of these songs have been lost in translation in the studio and probably work a lot better in a live environment.  The four songs on this EP are packed with hooks and the band definitely knows how to write a decent tune. The fact that the band are classified as “punk” is where the problem lies though. Lyrically, these songs are far too safe. It’s hard to imagine anyone being offended by this. It seems strange to give out about a band for not being offensive but that is the nature of punk music. Of course bands like Blink 182 became hugely successful with the same outlook. If you enjoy that kind of thing, you will probably find a lot to like about ‘Saturation’.