5th June 2019

Review: “When Life Gives You Lemons… Have A Drumstick” EP by Confronted

The gloriously titled “When Life Gives You Lemons… Have A Drumstick” by Confronted is the second EP from the chaotic Chichester quartet, following on from there 5 tune self titled debut in 2016. So you could say, it’s been long in the making. Whether the title is a reference to Swizzels Matlow’s favourite sweets or just getting a drumstick through the noggin, it’s a uniquely amusing choice! Unlike the debut, this one is totally DIY with a less clean production, the band wanting to try and capture their raw live sound which is exactly why we put them on our Black Map of the UK Underground Metal Scene!

After a Sludge Metal opening riff, “Glorious Throne” gets things going and that with a bootleg like mix that sounds like a lighting bolt has been caught in a bottle, it takes a little bit of getting used to. Well… 30 seconds. If it wasn’t recorded in one take, it certainly gives that impression. The guitar sound is big in the mix with some of the kit work being a bit muddy but the vocals are where the DIY choice wins out. Gang chants, ground beating breakdowns and even a building lead flourish leave no room for doubt – Confronted are back! Introducing “Clusterf**k” with some fake American accented talk, there is a return to the sludgy groove riffs for what is a mammoth beast of a tune. A Slayer inspired scream and off kilter riff at the back end give a “Raining Blood” vibe to a segment while some tasteful tempo shifts summon the beast from its depths. Getting the full music video treatment “Beaten, Broken, Reborn” clocks in at newly 6 minutes and stands out as having an improved mix over the other two tunes. The heavier bass sound gives the whole tune a thunderous atmosphere while there are hits at the likes of Motorhead in with some of the earlier guitar work. Breaking this down for a Melodic twist isn’t something you’d expect from a band who specialise in the a brand of Metallic Hardcore with a Punk vibe, but dropping down and building up over an extended instrumental passage gives a sense that the band have more in their collective locker that remains untapped. It also means that vocalist Rags can head over to the bar and get a round of beers in while the others finish the song! [7/10]

Track listing