Deadlines – ‘Dust’ The New EP.

Deadlines – Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.

You may remember our work on Cardiff Punkers, Deadlines, from October last year where we looked into their debut EP, Steroid City. Said review and a brief intro to the band can be found HERE.

It’s now 2015 and the band have clearly been working hard (see image above) on six fresh tracks for their new EP, Dust. MF was given access to the band’s masters early for some reason… That keeps happening you know… Anyone would think we provide some kind of service…

To recap, the band’s sound is a gritty melodic mix of mid-to-fast tempo Punk-Rock with a slight old-school orientated Post-Hardcore twist intertwined with the Punk elements, all of which brings to mind bands such as Off With Their Heads, Hot Water Music, Dag Nasty, Jawbreaker and Lifetime.

‘Intro’ is a good intro and does a great job of introducing the EP and serving as in introductory musical introduction.

The band’s rumbling, dirty Punk bass pulled me safely within track two’s clutches, from where I could see how the band had changed.

Line-up changes do that. The tempo has had a swift kick up the arse as the band explore a heavier and faster sound that quite frankly, is the right direction and “the shit”.

‘Habits & Mindsets’ packs a message and a punch. Conveniences and complacency are two things that are as plaguing as they are useful; and when they are useful, the are often a subjugating plague that you can’t escape even if you wanted to. A jab at the laissez faire and ‘shit humans’, to put it bluntly.

‘I think you just couldn’t face it. Somewhere along the line things have to retract. And if you could, you’d still avoid it, these habits and mindsets are all far too convenient.’

‘Bottom’ is slightly more upbeat despite its title. Fast high reaching guitar notes and the band’s robust and low grinding basslines are propelled by some of the band’s fastest tempos. As ever, Deadlines vocals are spot on. Gruff and sounding as natural as they did in the early days. The appeal of the previous release has been amplified.

To an extent, ‘Disconnected’ takes a break from the ‘new’, with an ode to the first EP. Play-full guitars, duel vocal assaults and fast driven baslines, Deadlines have this Punk-Rock thing down an’ dirty. The contrast between the gruff, early-Hot Water Music style vocals, high-noted guitars and low, unrefined bass has become something of a signature for Deadlines.

Ever step outside, look at the world around and utter, ‘What a fucking mess?’ Deadlines do.

‘Sink’ offers another insight into the band’s obvious listening choices as a penchant for faster and harder Punk seems to have worked its way in. My personal favourite on the album, could it be the beginning of something I wonder?

Things change, turn to dust, as dissatisfaction and disaffection breed. You think inwardly – ‘…and if I went back there I wouldn’t recognise a thing, I’m waiting for it – to sink in!’ 

If these Welsh lads do it for you as much as they do it for us, then check them out via the following direct links:

• Social Media/Updates: Facebook, Twitter.
• Music: bandcamp, BigCartel.

#StayFresh