Raw punk rock tracks led by powerful vocals, that’s what Newcastle band Fast Blood propose through their debut album Sunny Blunts. Review.
SUNNY BLUNTS – FAST BLOOD
Fast Blood has just released Sunny Blunts, and it’s of a rare unhinge strength from the get-go with the opening track Sexual Healing. A short cry, sharp riffs and an ultra-catchy chorus, it is indeed a banger. But further than that, it’s also an incredibly cathartic song. It’s a perfect way to start, followed by the as powerful Salvation. Rough on the edges, it’s the kind of aesthetics I was expecting here. It smells like a cool small club underneath a pub, it’s pure and visceral, both in chords and vocals. Overall, it’s a vertigo of gripping distortions.
The energy doesn’t weaken with Gone For Good or Pulling Teeth, although a dash of nostalgia takes the latter’s notes. Small Town marks a break with a hypnotic intro just before jumping on the front lines with destroyed riffs and a contrasting clean solo. Then, I discovered a new favourite of mine through Hold On Me, that grabbed me by the collar. At its core is a desperate feeling that blends with the band’s resilience and urge to fight. Because, of course, Fast Blood combines personal stories with politics with a great savoir-faire.
What moves and angers them allows them to release that unhinged energy in each track. Again, with Rum & Soda and the cleaner and incredible Eyes Wide Shut, the band is getting more and more intense. And on the last track, Sunny Blunts, it’s a revelation: it’s sober and heartfelt, and the vocals are clearer than ever. It might be the most radio-friendly track here and makes me want to hear a lot more. Here the two styles complement each other. A raging punk that satisfies all needs to scream and shout, and a chill kind of rock with hints of pop that never rejects its vulnerability and its need to cry and let go. Of these needs, Fast Blood has given birth to Sunny Blunts.