It’s becoming more and more common to see newer bands share an EP with another band rather than to go all the way and chance their arm at a full record. It’s certainly a great way to get your name out their particularly to a new audience who may be well versed on one side of the split but not the other.
In this case the Wiltz/Facing ‘Split’ EP works wonders. Not only does it play on the success of the post rock and math rock genres Ireland is becoming known for but it does it well with a rough, well cut sound of two bands who have honed their skills.
The ep consists of 7 tracks over all and each one is well worth the meagre €2 tag they’ve attached to it.
Wiltz suck you into the first four tracks with Cop, a powerful opening track that sets the standard for the rest of the record and leaves you wanting to dive into more, its melodic guitars and technical prowess leaves you wondering, especially when you learn that these lads have been together little more than a year. And in that time they’ve shared the stage with such international acts as Lemuria, The James Cleaver Quintet and Alright The Captain.
Well deserved praise will come their way and we wait in anticipation of more.
The transition following Wiltz four track half into Facing’s closing three isn’t an obvious one to begin with. Particularly when the opening to Bestheimer’s Number Seven, White Pancake seems so melodic and soothing, until you get about half way in, and then you’re hit by Facings own sound. This come much more which comes out much clearer in *Yawn*; and not just because this is the first time you’ll have heard lyrics in a while. And yet they introduce them so well.
This is the kind of split that works, two bands that can appeal to very different audiences but can just as easily bring them all together in the one room.
The EP stands as something worth having in your collection. It’s original and plays consistently well without getting tiresome like so much in the post rock genre these days. Soothing yet hard hitting in the right places, Wiltz and Facing look set to go places. Let’s hope we hear of an album or two coming out in the next few months.