11825815_500165516824766_1804182475448754176_nThe Kluster-Fux are a hardcore punk band from Tullamore, Co. Offaly formed by Michael Hannon (bass, vocals), Kieran Camon (guitar, vocals) – both former members of Corrosive Machine – and Jordan Nash (drums). Their debut EP, ‘Kill The President’ displays the band’s influence from the likes of Discharge, Circle Jerks, and Dead Kennedys – no-nonsense, fast, raw, harsh and if the cover and some of the song titles are anything to go by (Trumpet Up Your Arse, Don’t Be A Prick, not to mention the title-track); a sophomoric and obnoxious sense of humour.

An EP of two halves, the first four tracks showcase the group’s more serious, furious side whereas the second half shows The Kluster-Fux’s more fun, silly side.

Kill Or Be Killed kicks off the EP with a blistering bassline giving way on an onslaught of trashy, ragged D-beat. The gruff vocal delivery, as well as the low fidelity production quality, render the lyrics almost indecipherable save for the shout-along chorus and even then only the song title is intelligible; a trend that holds true for the duration of the EP.

See What You Wanna See slows things down a bit, driven by a sinister guitar riff, allowing room for some atonal guitar leads; but even still the track still barely makes it over the two-and-a-half-minute mark. In fact, most tracks barely make it to two minutes – which is only to be expected of a hardcore punk EP. Hate Fuels Hate ventures into near thrash crossover territory, with lyrics that describe clashes with “fascist scum”.

Camon and Hannon trade vocal duties throughout the EP, and while the trade-off adds a dynamic to The Kluster-Fux’s sound; there is not much variation in sound across the eight-tracks present. Also, while the band’s raw production values are values held by hardcore and punk rock in general; the basement quality recording style on ‘Kill the President’ really takes away from the power that these tracks could potentially have.

‘Kill The President’ is by the numbers late ‘70s / early ‘80s style street punk that doesn’t bring anything new to the table, but is nonetheless an enjoyable listen. The Kluster-Fux have potential to improve and garner notoriety in their niche scene, and should also be commended for making the kind of music that they love.