This Et Al - The Figure Eight EP

Chunky guitars coupled with an overwhelming sense of urgency, This Et Al seem to occupy the space left vacant by the demise of Hell is for Heroes. Satisfyingly heavy in all the right ways, the lead track proves to be a thoroughly enjoyable and edgy piece of work, a whirlwind of heaving riffs and stop start melody, ‘Figure Eight’ proves to be one of the most pleasant surprises in a long while.

The theme continues in subsequent tracks ‘Medicine Hammer’ and ‘Ice Age’; the former bristling with an underlying sense of menace not too unlike Redjetson on a balls-out rock session. ‘Ice Age’ throws in the biggest surprise of all, with its little piano jaunt that tails off wonderfully the epic post rock that came before it. all of which is lovingly capped off by ‘(The Tale of) Frosty Jackson’, a rousing instrumental piece with a hefty nod to Godspeed! You Black Emperor’s finest moments. ‘The Figure Eight’ EP is an unashamed and stylish portfolio of what the band are capable of, and judging by what’s on show here, rightly so.