I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting from the self-titled debut EP from Dublin trio Red Moon Bayonets, but whatever that was, it certainly wasn’t what I received. Having formed only a few months previous to recording their EP, Red Moon Bayonets have managed to produce quite a startling collection of tracks.
Opening track Love of Mine throws you right in at the deep end; brimming with an edgy feel, whilst maintaining the right amount of melody and hook, this track wouldn’t be at all out of place on a Muse album. Vocalist Vinnie Flynn could even be compared to a slightly bassier Matt Bellamy, with some grittier qualities. It’s easy to guess from the opening where this band’s influences lie, with names such as Queens of the Stone Age also coming to mind. However, the track in itself has those qualities that hint at a promising future for this band.
Track two, The Lovers That Died, is far more atmospheric and slow moving, and provides a nice contrast to the opening track. Combining Flynn’s almost grizzly vocal qualities with a simple guitar line, and some gently rolling drum rhythms, this track is unassuming and understated. Easy listening, with enough edge to keep you ever-so-slightly on your toes, they’ve gotten the balance right on this one.
The ante is upped for track three. Slightly more upbeat, with lots of edge and some decent hooks, this is another easy listen. Not offering anything complex or particularly thought provoking, it provides a solid and catchy penultimate track, and leads nicely into the final track, ‘Row’. With strong rhythms dominating from the beginning, and carrying the song throughout, this is a track to get lost in. Waves of quiet, melodic moments interrupt the rhythm to bring us back to what the band are getting at with this release, and highlights the strong rhythmic work when it takes over again. A very strong end to this EP, we end on a high point.
For a band that has only been playing and recording for a few short months, this is a very mature and punchy release. Full of edge and grit, there is nothing to be bored by here. Although perhaps a bit too influenced by other bands, the discovery of their own sound and uniqueness will no doubt come with time and work. I have no doubt that there are some very interesting things to come from the Red Moon Bayonets in the future.