Brawlers are a band that has already achieved critical acclaim throughout their career. Being cited in the “20 Hottest Bands In The World Right Now” from Kerrang! And their debut release, ‘I Am A Worthless Piece of Shit’ EP drew wide spread praise from a whole host of sources. That success coupled with a heavy touring schedule and the bands emphasis to have a good time has earned them a loyal fan base spread all over the UK.
The highly anticipated debut full length from the Leeds quartet landed in the AltCorner recently and immediately I could not wait to get my teeth into this latest output from a band that has a real buzz around them at the moment.
‘The Romantic Errors Of Our Youth’ is a hoot from start to finish with its infectious punk backbone that is heavily infected with delicious melodies throughout. Each track has catchy lyrics that will be engraved into your brain upon the first listen.
First track ‘Annabelle’ is the perfect introduction to an album, with its indie riffs and Gnarwolves vocal influence. The whole song is fun and exciting but with it weighing in at just one minute and forty seconds, there’s always a chance it could be a forgettable introduction. However, it’s a credit to Brawlers because it makes such a profound effect and serves as the perfect starter for what is to come.
‘Holding Back’ is a track on the album that I really enjoyed due to its lo-fi effect that works so well creating something that sounds a bit like Spill Canvas if they’d spent their summer listening to Royal Blood, Reuben and Dead Kennedy’s. The whole composition of the song is stellar and the guitar work and the ‘woo woo’s’ positioned towards the end create one of the finest tracks on the album.
Tracks like ‘Drink and Dial’ and ‘Nervous Breakdown’ are songs that are cut from similar cloths; they are both catchy and infectious. That’s the most impressive part of ‘The Romantic Errors Of Our Youth’ – Brawlers ability to write relatable lyrics that are delivered in an addiction-like manor that you will be singing throughout your first listen and beyond. Despite the lyrics being memorable and the perfect to sing-a-long too, Brawlers make sure they don’t fall into the trap of being too cheesy.
‘High Again’ is a two minute lightning bolt of grunge tinged punk that details personal anecdotes with a punchy, simplistic chorus of wailed ‘I feel high again’ that is followed by some mesmerizing guitar work. Album closer and title track ‘Romantic Errors of our Youth’ is a more chilled out ending to an infectious album, but it still maintains their style and everything that’s been a success to create a very impressive ending. The bass on this song is nothing short of superb too, so bassheads…rejoice!
Catchy, Catchy, Catchy… the good kind! I am beginning to sound repetitive BUT seriously listen to this album and try finding another word for it other than catchy. This album is hands down one of my favourite album I’ve heard this year. Its ability to spark a smile and the odd hint of terrific wordplay or lyricism is something that makes Brawlers have a real spark. One thing is for sure, I am going to make it my mission to see these guys live this year because these tracks live have the potential to be enigmatic.
So, it’s a well-deserved round of applause from me to Brawlers, they’ve made one of the finest records of the year!