The Family – “Welcome To The Family” [EP] [Album Review]

Formed from the ashes of UKHC band Dead Harts, The Family are a completely different beast altogether. Be prepared as well because, judging by the four tracks on their debut EP, Welcome To The Family, there is going to be more than a ripple of surprise across a scene that is more used to seeing frontman Mathew Baxendale and his bandmates flailing around the stage to a blur of chaotic hardcore.

Fuelled by a love of melodic vocals and filthy grunge, Welcome To The Family is a gritty, raw affair. Four tracks of dirty, fuzzy riffs and punkish, sneering vocals, offerings like “Nightmares And Daydreams” and “My Kinda Scum” conjure up images of a bunch of bandmates touring the country in a van held together by gaffa tape playing on equally battered instruments in grotty venues – basically what grunge was before it became a fucking high street fashion statement. This has the hypnotic melody of grunge but the snarl, frustration and aggression of proper punk rock making it a potent mix as the grind of “Radio Headphones” demonstrates.

After listening to Welcome To The Family one thing stuck in my mind and that is how you’re always taught that “family is first”. In this case, we’re more than happy with that because The Family are our kind of scum.

Welcome To The Family Track Listing:

01. Aint Gonna Happen Like That
02. My Kinda Scum
03. Nightmare And Daydreams
04. Radio Headphones

Run Time: 13:58
Release Date: May 19, 2017

Check out the track “Radio Headphones”