Straight out of the ever-growing grunge and alt-rock scene in Brighton, comes Idlewood. A four-piece not bound to genre, Idlewood takes all the best bits of the 90’s, and combines it with a healthy dose of modernism, frenetic energies, and a whole lot of enthusiasm. Their self-titled EP having been released in March; the band have succeeded to combine grunge and west-coast punk rock, with a mixture of country, blues and folk thrown in for good measure.
Showcasing powerful vocals and a raucous stage presence; Idlewood are a must-see live act, and are well on their way to enlighten us with new releases that break the boundaries of what would be expected from a British punk-influenced act such as themselves. All in all, it’s looking like a busy and productive year for Idlewood.
A vociferous assortment of relentless joy, the five-track EP is an adventure from beginning to end. Starting with my personal favourite of the EP, Waiting For Something, and ending with a delightful acoustic version of Overbite; the EP as a whole explores the space in between pop-punk and grunge, introducing us to what else can be found in the corners of these genres.
Showing influences from the likes of Nirvana, The Story So Far and just a hint of Basement; the alt-rock outfit boasts a kind of happy angst and persistence which is simultaneously familiar yet contemporary. Gliding from a grunge-fuelled crusade to a pop-punk reminiscence; Idlewood doesn’t leave space for anything else but pure, raw power. Extremely guitar-centric and boasting chaotically joyous harmonies from every-which-way, this short but sweet EP is just in time to bring us into the beginning of summer head on.