ALLUSONDRUGS - EP REVIEW

Allusondrugs - Allusondrugs EP (Clue Records) 
Allusondrugs EP

Release Date: 21st July 2014

This is the fourth time I've sat down over the last 11 months to listen to new material from Leeds upstarts Allusondrugs and every time it's been an absolute pleasure. This new EP, their longest release to date, is accompanied by a lengthy summer of touring which I thoroughly approve of (no Southwest date though, I need to have words with their booker). 'I'm Your Man' opens proceedings and is probably one of the mellower Allusondrugs tracks but still manages to channel Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins blended with the Charlatans and the Stone Roses in some sort of weird 90s fusion. And then comes one of my favourite song titles in a long time: 'Ted, What's The Porn Like In Heaven'. Title aside, this is a song of Biffy Clyro proportions but with the nervous swagger of Reuben and those throat shredding vocals are a thing of beauty.

It is on 'Cherry Pie', however, that these guys show what they are made of as a terrifying use of what sounds like a rusty hack-saw on the guitar creates a nightmarish but alluring riff with industrial roots - it's kinda like a remake of Charlie and Chocolate Factory as directed by Trent Reznor and starring Christopher Walken as Willie Wonka (actually that sounds better than that Depp catastrophe....get my agent on the phone). Recent single 'Nervous' pops up sounding as huge and impregnable as ever before 'Sunset Yellow' shows off the bands more tender side as gliding droplets of guitar notes give way to slow but crunching riffs that burst and crackle through the speakers.

The final track on this collection is 'Thingio' and we start to get a taste of the future as there is more of a swagger and ease about the low slung riffs. It's almost as though these guys are growing in to this rock star thing and their relentless gigging-writing-releasing schedule is starting to pay off. I saw an article online the other day that suggested British rock music was essentially lying face down in puddle of its own vomit. Well, that may be true but if it is then Allusondrugs have just nicked it's wallet and stepped over it's still body on the way to the future.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/Allusondrugs

Live Dates:

5th July - The Wardrobe, Leeds
11th July - Exchange Arts Centre, Keighley
12th July - The Works Skatepark, Leeds
17th July - Proud Galleries, Camden
20th July - The Rocking Chair, Sheffield
25th July - Millennium Galleries @ Tramlines Festival, Sheffield
26th July - Lounge 41, Workington
27th July - Clarence Festival, Wakefield
1st August - The Puzzle Hall, Sowerby Bridge
2nd August - Temple of Boom, Leeds
7th August - Bar Bloc, Glasgow
14th August - Wharf Chambers, Leeds
11th September - The 13th Note, Glasgow
12th September - Downstairs, Aberdeen
13th September - Pickett, Liverpool
14th September - Think Tank, Newcastle
15th September - Static Bar, Swansea
16th September - Red Rooms, Nottingham
17th September - The Garage, London
18th September - Sticky Mikes, Brighton
19th September - The Crauford Arms, Milton Keynes
20th September - Huddlefest, Huddersfield
21st September - Boiler Room, Guildford

22nd September - Joiners, Southampton

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