Panacea is the first ever single from 4-piece band Bland, and is taken from their forthcoming debut 5-track EP, Consumable Collection.
It starts with an atmospheric opening with some really nice guitar FX. It’s a modern sound with a simple, rolling riff that builds the tension nicely. Quickly, though, it becomes a driving, frantic track with loads of punk energy and a timeless sound that could be from 1980 or 2025.
The vocal delivery suits the track perfectly and has an expressive sung/spoken mix reminiscent of Mark E Smith or Iggy Pop.
The band write “The song’s title refers to a cure-all, and the lyrics trace the different ways people search for something that might fix them. It doesn’t offer answers, just a reflection of the search itself.”
They sound tight as hell, with every second filled with high intensity. The crunchy tone of the drums and guitars gives this a raw, live feel that is exhilarating and makes you want to jump up and dance.
The driving rhythm guitar swoops and lurches through the song like a bird of prey, the drums delivering an endless stream of inventive fills and variations. Everything has space, though, and the mix is so crisp and clear.
As the onslaught continues, there are only one or two places where we can catch our breath – and you’d better be quick, because the crescendo of craziness always returns with a vengeance!
This is an exciting and vibrant debut from a band that is anything but Bland.
Panacea is out now.
Written by Grubby
