Taking place over a three-month recording process, American band Receiver has finally released their first-ever EP, ‘I’ll Try Violence’, and oh my word, what a showstopper of a debut, which leaves listeners excited to find out more about this hidden gem.
While ‘Souvenir’ is angsty and ‘Bullet’ is angry, both are equally exceptional. The former’s beginning makes you wait with bated breath for what comes next. The smooth bass (Liam Keough) makes itself known, and with the all over the place guitars (Jamie Vandenheede and Leo Pecci), the track lets you know that you’re in for a treat with whatever ‘I’ll Try Violence’ entails. Speaking of guitars, if there’s one thing that Receiver does exceptionally, it’s them, and this is especially highlighted in ‘Bullet’, where they’re the star of the show. The angular, jaggy riffs complement Vandenheede’s post-punk vocals beautifully. The saxophone is a nice touch too (thanks to Vandenheede again). I wouldn’t have thought of putting them in a tune like this, but they work, so I’m not going to complain. The ending is my favourite part, though, the distorted chaos swallowing you up and running round your head well after the last note has rung out.
What do you get when you mix Krautrock and punk? Why, ‘Madrid’ of course! According to the band, the track started as a simple improvised thing during rehearsals, and well, it’s grown arms and legs since that first play. Acting as the star of the entire EP, the song has firmly cemented itself as my favourite. I suppose it is the longest track, so maybe that’s why it’s the strongest, because it has got time to breathe.
It sounds slightly different compared to the other tracks, but it still keeps the momentum of ‘I’ll Try Violence’ going smoothly. The start feels slower, but it quickly picks back up into that familiar thrash that we’ve grown to love. Then, with a minute remaining, this is where ‘Madrid’ truly lets loose. Blended guitars and jazz-style drums let you let go of the world. For a band that realistically hasn’t been around for long, they’ve somehow managed to develop a sound well beyond their tentative years, and I look forward to seeing where they go next because the quartet has really put their heart and soul into this recording.
The next song is like a punch to the face. Doing what it says on the tin, ‘Delayed Reaction’ is certainly a surprise, especially after the chiller ending of ‘Madrid’, but it’s not bad by any means. In fact, I think it may be one of the best on the entire tracklist and followed suit by ‘Past Excitements’, it’s impossible not to fall in love with the punk-rockers. With a sound similar to that of the Sex Pistols and WEATHERS, it all feels a bit like a fever-dream, like you’re Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole into a world of mystery. It’s exciting, though, and it is made even better by Sasha Kennedy going crazy hard in this song, a testament to her talent as a drummer.
Stand out lyric in ‘Delayed Reaction’ definitely has to be “‘cause girl we all got problems, you gotta face them day by day”. I think it truly captures the spirit of the Virginians and leaves us with a message we can carry into our lives.
‘In Kaplan’ is a very fitting end to ‘I’ll Try Violence’. It ties everything up neatly in a pretty little bow. You’re greeted with gentle synths (courtesy of Pecci), and you think that’s how the rest of the song is going to go—a quieter end to what has been a very raucous EP. There’s no shouting, but don’t get me wrong, there’s still an edge to the vocals, but it’s a more understated and not an in-your-face kind of thing. Then, in true Receiver fashion, your expectations are subverted as everything grows louder. The funky, distorted guitars and those fast-paced drums crash around, making for a memorable way to finish it all off.
Considering it’s their first release, ‘I’ll Try Violence’ makes it clear that Receiver has a lot of potential, and if they keep grafting like this, who knows where they’ll end up…
Written by Madi Briggs
