The Malthusian Trap – Culture Test EP
Release Date: Out Now
Plymouth based collective the
Malthusian Trap have been holed up making podcasts and cooking up a storm in
more ways than one, but they’ve put their collective head (or giant eye) out of
the bunker for long enough to fire off this five track EP to keep us keen. The ‘Culture
Test’ EP opens with ‘Air Gets Thin’ which is easily the most instant and hooky
track the band have come up with to date. This exists somewhere between New
Order and Electronic (strong Sumner vibes) with an urgent and pulsating
bassline joined by uplifting guitars and the kind of beat that won’t quit
before the Shaun Ryder-esque vocal of Damon Foster joins in. This is as strong
a start to an EP as I’ve heard recently so put your phone down and pay attention.
‘Bitter Ends’ has a more moody beginning
but there’s still a twitchy, urban energy and the guitars cut through the
background noise to make way for the snarling, gang vocals to preach their manifesto
to the gathered masses. I love the imagery of ‘Butcher’s Apron’ as a title and
the track lives up to it’s name with an edgy, menacing delivery of lines like “the
butcher’s apron shines like a diamond”. ‘E.W.F.’ confirms that the Malthusian
Trap have hit their stride on this EP with a beat that sounds like it’s half a
bpm away from being a rave track mixed with dirty guitars that make this sound
like Black Futures or Death in Vegas with Kasabian egging them on from behind
the production desk.
The EP closes out with ‘Past
Lives’, a darker tune that would fit in on the soundtrack to Total Recall or
Robocop as the ominous bass notes are scored and seared by guitars. Foster’s
moody, breathy vocal mutters from the shadows like your conscience on a bad day
– telling you all the things you should start regretting before it’s too late.
The Malthusian Trap have always promised huge things and shown genuine creativity
but this is the EP, the moment in fact, that the trio hit gold and I can’t urge
you strongly enough to get yourself involved. Like, now.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/malthusiantrap/