EP Review: Beat Combo – Kind Regards EP

Beat Combo (in a former life Pre-Birds) are a band that deal in, in their own words, ‘noisy, wonky grooves’. Issued earlier this year through Serial Bowl Records, this EP comes as a debut for the Nottingham quartet – who used to be a trio – with the writing and recording as a 4-piece prompting a direction and moniker change. In the year between capturing the album at Bear Bites Horse Studios and its actual release, the band had been out on the live circuit, opening for the likes of Hot Snakes, and Flipper, until COVID-19 put a halt to all that.

‘Kind Regards’ ignites with immediacy: first track ‘Pyro’ (video HERE) is buzz and beat and bawl – “You watched the whole thing burn” – an almost-jaunty math-rock groove takes hold, until the back end of the song is whipped up into a fine din. ‘Saint Me’ is made up of more angular and conflicting components It’s a straightforward chug versus stings of clamour and a snaking riff, metronomically paced vocals that rupture into coarse roars, and a lush bass tone in the second verse. ‘Ticking Clock’ delivers more of a reliable rhythm for the most part – more punkier in pulse and power – before rounding off in spiralling string and snare hits. Closer ‘It Gets Worse’ creeps along menacingly; eerie ethereal vocals sitting submerged under the sparseness. And then it half-breaks into ringing dissonance and squealing feedback, all building up to..silence.

Like punkish vibes that venture into off-kilter, abrasive and expansive areas? ‘Kinds Regards’ is available through Serial Bowl Records. Beat Combo has Bandcamp, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to follow.