Heavy Set Bayonet are an unsigned indie four-piece from Derry in Northern Ireland. They’ve been playing together for a little under two years now and have accumulated a rather localised group of fans so far. Their live show has received a lot of praise in the North but it remains to be seen whether the sound translates over to a record.

Having taken a glance at some of the live material HSB have uploaded to YouTube, I was quite intrigued and was really looking forward to listening to the ‘Remember All The Bits’ EP and for the most part, I wasn’t let down. The record opens with Pure Beaut, full to the brim with heavy riffs and dual-vocals this is an impressively solid track even if it does lack in originality.

The second track, Bits, is an instant toe-tapper that is clearly heavily influenced by Two Door Cinema Club. Catchy riffs that would get any crowd dancing dominate this song from start to finish. The vocals aren’t the strongest but memorable lyrics mean you’ll find yourself singing this tune for hours to come.

Beef is most definitely a crowd-pleaser for the live gigs. Thundering drums accompanied by a mix of heavy bass and melodic guitar make this the standout song on this record. The song closes with a rousing, moshpit inducing chorus of “the sharks are all swimming” which will leave you begging for more.

Every EP has its weak moments and, for me, the fourth and last track on ‘Remember All Bits’, This Again is a perfectly apt title for what is a distinctly unoriginal song that leaves me somewhat disappointed after what had been an exciting listen. Remnants of Two Door Cinema Club and Arctic Monkeys are clear but the song doesn’t reach the dizzying heights of the rest of the EP.

Overall, Heavy Set Bayonet are a band who most definitely know what their strengths are and use them to their full potential. ‘Remember all the Bits’ is a solid debut from a band who are one of the most exciting to come out of Derry in recent years. With another EP due for release in late 2011, these are exciting times for the Northern Irish music scene.