Album Review: The Violent Hearts - "Everything And Nothing"


Hailing from Bristol, the Violent Hearts were formed from the remnants of the 21st century version of power-pop mainstays Sharks (the group where Chris Spedding got his start many many years ago). On the evidence of the lead-off single from this album, Terminal, I wasn't sure what to expect as it seemed a bit unsure whether it was punk, goth or new wave.

As that taster suggested, Everything And Nothing is definitely a bit of a schizophrenic beast but not necessarily in a bad way. Opener Everything And Nothing kicks on with an impressive energy, sounding like some great drinking session involving the Ramones and the Cure which could've backfired massively but has that right mix of power pop energy and gothy menace to work really well. Porcelain World is similarly contrary but engaging with its driving drums meshing well with the twanging gothy guitars and incongruous Beach Boys style organ on the chorus.

The Violent Hearts don't show any signs of getting any less varied as the album goes on either - just when you think you've got them tagged as a gothed-up power-pop band on something like SSE, they whack you in the chops with a fiery slice of punk attitude like So Removed. The only flipside to this is that it occasionally makes Everything And Nothing sound a bit unfocused with the tracks gelling a bit uneasily with each other. I mean when you go from dreamy Ride style shoegazing (All Of Them Witches) through Buzzcocks style pop-punk (Slice Of Life) to something which sounds oddly like a gothed up XTC (Hex On Me) in successive tracks, there's always a risk of the listener losing their train of thought a bit.

Overall though, there's more good here than bad (if I had to pick an album highlight then the panic attack of Bleach In My Lungs would probably edge it) and you certainly couldn't accuse the Violent Hearts of being a predictable band which is to their immense credit. A little bit more focus and the future could be pretty bright for this lot I reckon.


NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑🌑 (7/10)

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