Something Bitter – New York City, New York, USA
“Introducing: Something Bitter”. In the band’s own words, they do so as follows – ‘Positively nihilistic fun-punk from NYC’ – Now, I’m sure that’s adequate enough but the whole point of this is to yield those tantalising tidbits to task you to find the band’s whole on your own. So, yes, introducing Something Bitter is then, but again. To NYC!
Consider blasts of ’90s Skate Punk cut with layered Post-Hardcore guitars and discordant melody, lyrics as commonly esoteric as they are openly discernable and playful sardonic and nihilistic conditioned humour over the lot. Combine the aforementioned with the hooks of Samiam, the gruff cross-section of melodic Punk from fellow New York beings Up For Nothing, Denmark’s Forever Unclean and Floridians Debt Neglector and you have an idea of what the Something Bitter MO yields.
The band’s debut demo, ‘What’s Next Over Whats Left’ would later re-emerge on the debut EP but either way, confidently cuts across the above, cheekily cut with Post-Hardcore-isms whilst the positively nihilistic ‘Spoiler Alert’ is a skilful jaunt through choppy ’90s melodic Punk with all the gusto of the big “P H” and a determined, rumbling contrast of precision-cut serrated guitar-strings just because.
It Doesn’t Have To Be Now followed earnestly in August of this year and with its inner ear domination, draws you in entirely with an indomitable masterclass on how Post-Hardcore’s ubiquitous yield has permeated honest melodic Punk music. *Cough* Hot Water Music *Cough* Then it is time for rehashed weighted clout of ‘What’s Next Over Whats Left’, following on sounding its emotively whole self.
Something Bitter purvey an outwardly frantic energy in the most considered manner on It Doesn’t Have To Be Now. Tempo, dynamic and outright stylistic changes are the band’s metaphorical bread and (whatever) “butter” (you’d prefer) on this debut EP and both ‘Dear God Complex’ and ‘The Same Mistakes’ may match the gritted fervour of the bands above. Tracks three and four also champion the innate need for the rough-cut melodious grins the four-piece subsist on but also crucially, showcase a band already and quite seamlessly starting to stride confidently beyond the top of their game.
‘Broken Pieces’ odes to the fast scrappy Punk-Rock underpinning the band in a Millencolin-esque bout while the closing ‘Let it Rain’, not only substantiates how well produced the band’s debut is but is a fitting closer demonstrating how much power Something Bitter has at their disposal.
Introducing Something Bitter, that will do, the rest is on you.
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