Scrim - Talking in Code
Hahaha..The press release actually says, and I quote: "LED ZEPPELIN BEWARE.."
Such ludicrous claims can only set up SCRIM for a fall and so they do in spectactular fashion.
The opening and eponymous track of this E.P from the Sheffield 4 piece, though possessing a tried and tested selection of riffs and hooks, is little more than a pub cover band's expensive demo to be sent to the Lamb & Flag round the corner. The widdly wah-wah guitar licks are in no doubt well accomplished and superficially enjoyable, but this is nothing new and nothing at all worth shouting about.
Next track, 'At the Disco' is similar in vein and just as shallow. The vocals removed of all their presumably strong Yorkshire drawl and submerged in horrible american hard rock cliche and phraseology. Even worse than Forune Drive...
By the time 'Open your Eyes' rolls around, I am ready to write Scrim off. Though still swathed in a flag of provincial wannabee-ism and a dross arrangement, the song is a marked improvement in both originality and quality control. The lead guitar parts are much more expressive and the anthemic quality nicely erases the truly vacuous lyrics from your brain.
Finishing off with a more straight-forward attack of power chords, double stops and sprawling drums with 'Supersize', I am left pondering how such a mediocre band deserves my attention, and how I would gladly resort to the pool table should they be playing at my local. Not that these songs are awful, far from it. They are standard exercises in rock posturing and no bad thing, but there appears to be none of themselves in it and everything of everybody else.
Fair to middling and another pint please..