On their initial EP, Coveleski make a point to prove that pure gruff rock and roll can still exist, and indeed thrive, in a musical landscape that values progression and experimentation over re-treading old ground.
Unfortunately though, Coveleski wear their influences a little too proudly and have denied themselves a unique voice in the process, leading to an underwhelming debut.
Taking influence from quintessential post-hardcore acts Fugazi and Hüsker Dü, Coveleski’s aggressive, raw rock and roll is let down by the lacklustre production. Stripped back in all the wrong ways, the guitars are tinny and lack oomph – which is particularly strange as the feeling of riotous energy is almost palpable, yet unable to escape.
It feels as if there is no power in this release, despite the energy of the songwriting. Instead, the production has unfortunately rendered these tracks fairly lifeless.
However, there are moments that the production favours and manage to cut through. ‘Slo-Burn’ channels early Queens Of The Stone Age as the slow jam injects a touch of blues into dark atmospheric riffage which, as the title suggests, simmers slowly, all building towards a satisfying climax.
Unfortunately, that cannot be said about the rest of the release. With the exception of ‘Slo-Burn’, it is the record’s short bursts that shine, while longer cuts fail to justify their length.
Running at 22 minutes, there is a much tighter and more concise release buried within this debut. Tracks like ‘Pocket Tyranny’, a tightly constructed shot to the arm, demonstrates Coveleski’s potential for sharp releases of energy, yet it is smothered by the length of the record.
There is most definitely a great band in here somewhere; it is just struggling to be heard.
