Bottler: Smithereens

Artist: Bottler
Title: Smithereens
Format Reviewed: MP3
Format Released: 24th March 2014
Reviewed By: Millie Manders

Bottler are new on the scene.  Their Facebook page was only opened up in November last year and Smithereens is their debut EP. Having checked the band's biography before listening in, I discovered that they brand their influences as “NOFX, Pulley, Bad Religion, Rancid, Face to Face, Millencolin, Blink 182, Frenzal Rhomb [and] Bodyjar”. As you can expect, this got me excited.

Unfortunately that's where my excitement stopped.

Bottler have got some of the right ideas: simplistic vocals and punk antic lyrics with heavy drum solos and grit-laden guitars, but there is too much going on. The bass is a pretty much continuous solo that isn't quite syncopated with the drums or guitars, resulting in a really messy whole.  This in turn makes the vocals sound too simple or even trite.  Even NOFX and the rest had to make sure the music made sense to the listener and Smithereens just doesn't feel like this has been considered. It sounds more like each musician is trying to out-do the next in a battle of skill!

When playing live (especially at punk gigs) there is more scope for a mash up of noise with a beer fuelled mosh pit in front of the stage. When you're on the way to work with head banging tunes on though, it has to sound tight.

The opening track on the EP, Ex-Members has a clear pop-punk vocal over a hard punk track, and it works in that basic sense: hard meeting soft in the middle.  It's clearly British punk too, which is refreshing:  Bottler haven't just gone for cookie cutter American accents and cliché structures.

Ready, Willing, Able has a decent breakdown allowing the guitars and vocals to be heard but it soon gets too busy again.

While I feel the EP needs some improvements, Bottler, for all intents and purposes, are talented musicians. The highlight is Mastermind – the most ‘Oi!’ song of the five with a grabbing intro and frog-stomper of a beat.

The title track Smithereens is actually a really good song. I’d love to hear this song tidied up and re-released. Good hook and awesome bass line. 

No Questions Please is a juxtaposition to Ex-Members. The bass line is brilliantly hooky and the rolling toms work perfectly alongside. This time it's the vocal that let the song down. The double tracking is overdone and don't feel quite in time.  Not the strongest track to end an EP on.

While this debut won't be burning down the house, I will be curious to see any follow-ups from Bottler. Clear potential in the mix.