EP Review: The Sewer Cats – Demo/Zelda

Celebrating just over a year since the release of their ‘Demo’ EP, Manchester fuzz-punkers The Sewer Cats have  announced this week that the last few CD copies have been made available through their Bandcamp page, or a FREE copy will be sent out to those who purchase their most recent EP ‘Zelda’; which presents a perfect opportunity to explore the duo’s musical output so far. Made up of drummer/vocalist Cass and guitarist Josh, and backed by diversity supporting DIY label Hell Hath No Fury, the band mix coarse garage energy with socio-political lyrics in their ‘catchy and scathing’ songs.

The 3-track ‘Demo’ EP crashes in on an obligatory “1,2,3,4!” and immediately the core aesthetic of the band becomes apparent – an amped-up, overdriven tone is the conduit for dirty,  incessantly strutty riffs, while vicious drums clash and clatter. Vocally, Cass howls, yelps and screeches above the brazen din. It’s fantastically feral.

But there are shades to the haze – ‘Are you Sexist?’ drops in a mammoth, sludgy breakdown; ‘Timothy’ finds space within its short run time to descend into a warped blues swagger and ‘Cat Bingo’ features a dissonant almost-chorus.

The ‘Zelda’ EP continues in the same vein. Opener ‘Fool’ buzzes along on an infectious, angular disco-like rhythm before sliding into a muddy middle eight, then allowing Josh to wail away once again. ‘Rich Cheaters’ is all chainsaw guitars and directed anger followed by the fat drum beat and stoner-esque swing of ‘Greta’ – there’s an appreciated change-up of vocal delivery, and the choral call-to-conscience: “don’t underestimate the power of the girl.” Next up, ‘Laurie’ is, in turn, hip-shaking then toe-tapping then head-nodding, and ‘Raw’ unleashes more relentless, frenetic fret wrangling. Create & Rebel initially slows the pace down but can’t contain Cass’s acerbic snarl, which feeds the track’s wind up into an spiralling, offbeat ska/gypsy wig-out, while ‘Cat Gifs’ is a closing blast of squealing cartoon punk fun.

Like energetic, enraged bursts of informed garage grooves in their rawest form? ‘The Sewer Cats Demo’ EP is available as a ‘name your price’ digital download, £3 CD, or FREE with a purchase of the ‘Zelda’ EP – all through Bandcamp. The Sewer Cats also have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.