After a series of releases and successful live performances, the London-based trio Barking Poets are back with their 2nd EP Southsea Sounds via Engineer Records. Recorded in collaboration with producer Tim Greaves at the Southsea Sounds studios in Portsmouth, Southsea Sounds is an intense dose of Barking Poets that you don’t wanna miss. Let me tell you more about it.
Barking Poets kickstarted Southsea Sounds with Getting Away with It, a perfect opener with big melodic riffs laying the foundations of their energetic sound. It has a dominating punk-ish groove with a catchy vocal melody and a smooth flow that promises a mood-boosting EP. We Will Overcome comes next with an engaging sound that I believe would create amazing singalong moments when played live, it sounds like Barking Poets are aiming for a more spacious structure with deep bass, and slower riffs, giving more space for the vocals to lead the song’s dynamic progression. I Could’ve Been a Contender steers towards a heavier, faster sound that pushes forward, shaking off the EP’s dynamic flow to keep the listeners onboard. It shows another side of Barking Poets‘ writing with its intense flow and insanely good guitar work. All within a solid relentless structure that kept the energy levels at the max and uncompromised. As we reach the middle of the EP, Punching Down welcomes us with warm acoustic guitars and an irresistibly moving vocal melody. It smoothly progresses into a faster flow with mellow engaging vibes, which I believe at this point is one of Barking Poets‘ key elements. I loved its changing structure as its cleverly crafted organic ups and downs kept its sound fresh and super fun. Part of the Problem comes next hitting hard and heavy. Its big powerful sound took me by surprise, while its fluid melodies and pounding sound kept my head banging throughout the whole song. It sounds like a loud blasting statement that’s well-written, with the whole band giving their best in a big unified stream of riffs, melodies, beats, and a killer solo. Ending the EP on a high note comes Going Back to London Town, a diverse-sounding piece that takes us on a journey through Barking Poets‘ writing styles that were introduced throughout Southsea Sound. It starts as a chill emotional ballad with warm acoustic guitar and powerful vocals before exploding into their energetic punk-ish sound, and adding a deeper melodic layer that breathes life into their structures, all creating a wall of dynamic sound that carries the listeners to the end and probably playing the EP all over again.
Southsea Sounds is a solid EP that shows Barking Poets‘ musicianship and writing skills, alongside their well-knowledge of their sound and how to steer it towards their desired direction. Looking forward to more from Barking Poets, kee of rocking guys. Cheers!
