Posts Tagged ‘Manshark’

ManShark – FlashFires

Over at Angry Badger Records we have managed to sneak in a new signing before jetting off to Sacramento for the Kodiak Jack album sessions.  FlashFires hail from Basingstoke and have just released the video to their cracking track ManShark.

New EP details and tour dates will follow shortly but until then, Beware the ManShark!

Flashfires EP – Flashfires

My decision to quit actually making music, or rather the day I conceded I was, how can I put it, piss poor, seems to be more and more justified.  When I receive CDs from irritatingly young but rather good bands like FlashFires it puts into perspective how far off the mark I would have been.

More commonly associated with the number of roundabouts they have as opposed to any kind of musical heritage, FlashFires call Basingstoke home but have not let this hold them back.

As with many young bands they wear their influences proudly on their sleeves, most notably Arctic Monkeys, both lyrically and musically Turner and Co. can be felt throughout the EP.  However FlashFires have far more to offer than just a homage to the Sheffield quartet and the five tracks on offer are an intriguing mix of indie edginess with some rock guitar.

Apart from sounding like it should be a bloody brilliant movie on the SyFy channel, Manshark is an instantly catchy indie number with a hint of ska, big chorus and nifty guitar solo and sets the tone perfectly for the EP.

Caught Up In Youth is an apt title for track three as this feels the weakest link for me, the chorus suffers from the clichéd 60s psychedelic tinge but finds its feet slightly by the end with a delicate guitar outro.

Hitting their stride once more with Cezanne this has some stellar work from drummer Toby and chorus that reminds me of Dolly Parton’s Jolene.  It offers an intriguing blend of influences and makes pigeon holing the band tricky.  Final track You Say Nothing owes a debt to another legendary Sheffield export, Pulp, opening as it does with a guitar line reminiscent of Babies before sharply heading back to more Arctic Monkeys infused territory.

I have been sent a few ‘rough’ demos lately so it was a joy to receive FlashFires CD, a band who clearly have a definite idea of their sound and what they want to be.  The indie/rock cross over genre appears to be gathering momentum and a number of young bands seem to be embracing the indie chic with a rockier guitar sound.  I am certainly all for it and look forward to hearing what comes next from FlashFires, I have high hopes for them.

Jules says…

To find out more about FlashFires click HERE.