Following up their 2018 debut full-length release Rhubarb Nostalgia, Wild Cat Strike have now unveiled their latest worth in the form of EP Mustard Coloured Years. Building on their album’s blend of alt-rock and folk influences, the Brighton quartet highlight their continued mastery of their sound, with a continued evolution in their songwriting.
Gently easing listeners into their raucous world, first track Mustard provides a soft and gentle melody to begin with, as singer Danny Byrom serenades us through his heartfelt lyrics. The tune continues to build into a searing cacophony of crunching guitar chords and pounding drums, turning from a soft lullaby into a rousing stomper. It’s a great distillation of the nineties alt-rock quiet-loud dynamics, highlighting the band’s gift for using their influences to strengthen their songs.
Toothcutter (Part 1) is a dirty, dazed slacker tune that takes the best from bands like Pavement and Dinosaur Jr., cutting a laid-back groove underneath its jagged riffs and sliding arpeggios. The second part flips this mood and turns it into a darker, more reflective piece with lyrics on sadness, grief and anxiety.
Swamp follows Mustard by beginning in a reserved, soft tone before bursting into explosive guitar noise, while final track Beekeeper Song provides a gentler slice of bedroom DIY indie to end things on a lighter note. Hopefully, Mustard Coloured Years is a sign of things to come, as while the EP is a great taster with five songs of brooding, engrossing rock magic, a new album would be the perfect main course to dine on.
