After relocating from rural Parkes to Sydney in 2010, young five-piece, Bears with Guns, are clearly a band that means business. Emerging through Triple J Unearthed, the band’s second EP release, Only the Quick and the Hungry, comes packed with the potential, drive and instrumental chops to bring their classy brand of folk-rock jams to a wider audience. Of course the whole indie folk-rock scene has become heavily populated in recent years, particularly on the back of the local success of Boy and Bear and wide spread acclaim for international heavyweights, Mumford and Sons. Thus finding a way to stand out from the pack is becoming increasingly difficult. Thankfully Bears with Guns have the song-writing flair and strong, varied musicianship to carve out their own identity.
Although there are moments where the song-writing treads a fine line between the fresh and the derivative, mostly the EP shines. And considering their youth, there’s nothing too problematic here, as the songs contain an emotional pull and soulful edge that will hold them in good stead as their sound develops. With this release being their second EP, the band has laid down solid groundwork for a likely full-length debut next time round.
One of the band’s strengths is their rich instrumentation which serves to create great depth and texture to their overall sound. Bears with Guns incorporate a tapestry of diverse instruments to compliment the basic guitars, bass and drums set-up. Horns, djembe, mandolin and ukulele are amongst the selection of instruments the band play adeptly, bringing rich layers of texture and rolling them into their cohesive sonic template. Also working in the band’s favour is an earthy grittiness to their sound, complimented by a clean, organic production job.
The six songs comprising the EP feature tidy arrangements, rich harmonies and a strong array of hummable melodies and catchy hooks to get stuck into. At a touch over 22 minutes it all ends rather quickly, but the concise and consistent quality of the song-writing and catchiness of the material bodes well for replay value. Catchy opener ‘Snakes & Ladders’ is an immediate highlight, drawing you in with snappy drum work, smooth, vaguely mournful vocals and superb musicianship. First single ‘Wandering Soldier’ exemplifies their charming knack of meshing an upbeat cadence with darker melancholic tones. Under three minutes long, It ends too soon and could have been fleshed out into a more substantial timeframe. Nevertheless it’s a superb tune, bookended by another excellent vocal performance, addictive hook and killer horn work.
The brooding ‘Winter Tree’ lives up to its frosty name with an undercurrent of sadness simmering beneath its sorrowful tone and heart-wrenching vocal. The song is an absolute cracker, despite its downbeat vibe, and arguably stands as the best song on the EP. ‘Taken for a Fool’ sounds ripe for radio airplay, closing the EP in a more optimistic fashion, with a catchy springiness to its structure and typically strong vocals (another drawcard for the band).
Bears with Guns are a band on the rise with a future that looks decidedly bright, assuming their song-writing continues to develop and prosper. Only the Quick and the Hungry is full of promise and is well worth checking out for fans of quality indie folk-rock with a darker angle.
7.5/10
Reviewer: Luke Saunders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABVTLACWXnQ