Workin' Man Noise Unit | website | facebook | bandcamp |
Released on November 13, 2015 via Riot Season Records
Between Bad Guys, Henry Blacker, Tropical Trash and Early Mammal, it’s probably been the best year for Riot Season Records… ever! These releases will be listened to by anyone with taste throughout the ages, so Andy could have just put his feet up and played on his SNES (or whatever people play these days) until 2016. However, here we are with another offering entitled Play Loud from Reading’s Workin’ Man Noise Unit, who have been around since 2010 pumping out the odd EP, but this is their first full-length.
So what’s it like? It’s great fucking fun, Riot Season has always been such a brutal label, but this is packed full of anthems. It’s almost pop music, but not in a shit way, these are heavy, catchy tunes that make you want to sing along and hug your friends in a rock pub.
The opener ‘With Love Supreme’ has a huge sound about it, the riffs are huge, the drums are huge and it all sounds original. ‘Cruisin’ The IDR’ then smashes in, it’s faster, meaner, leaner and the chorus is incredible. I have no clue what ‘Cruisin’ The IDR’ means, but weirdly I feel like I do know what it means when I hear it, like I’m in some exclusive club… and that’s down to the infectious delivery! You want to buy whatever they are selling and ride their vibe.
The level of songwriting is right up there, every single track catchy as hell, but they all pack a serious punch. The musicianship is strong… all sorts of riffs backed up by a bold rhythm section who could challenge anyone. Almost like a fun, punk rock Black Sabbath, that’s an awful description (sorry), but this really is classic riffs channelled in a new direction! There’s a few gadgets in the background making weird noises too, but it’s subtle and balanced to perfection. This is essentially a band who’s been around for a while and given themselves time to write a great bunch of fucking tunes and deliver them in an exciting and refreshing way. Buy it!
