The Scarlets

BOMBSHELL EP

RELEASED 2011

Wow! This is as good an EP as I have heard all year. If you haven't heard the Scarlets yet I suggest you check them out now, because on the basis of this, their second EP, they should be getting bigger soon.

The secret of a great EP is of course to grab the listeners attention with the first track, never let up, and leave them panting for more at the end. This is the rare release that actually achieves that. There is a video up on Youtube that you can take a look at for the title track, it's a gloriously sexy slab of pop-rock-punk attitude that hits the spot for me. But it's the quality and the relentless nature of the other four tracks here that is really worth sitting up and taking notice of.

'Halo' and 'Witness' that follow are both great songs that prove that this sound is firmly entrenched in that punky sleaze that bands like New York's 'The Erotics' do so well or Scandanavian high energy bands like 'The Hives' excell at. The Scarlets for me inhabit that territory between the two. Songs that are as catchy as hell, and full of sleaze, sin and debauchery, all delivered with an in-your-face attitude that never lets up. You won't get a ballad from these guys, which is refreshing in itself!

The highlight of the EP for me is actually 'Scapegoat' at the moment, but it changes every day, last week it was the sting of closer 'Out of Here'. Check 'em out like I said and if you like the videos I can assure you that you won't find a bad track either on here or their previous EP 'Blow Your House Down'. Even better catch them live, because there they just take it to another level entirely.

God bless the scarlets and all that listen to them! There have been some good EP's out this year but this is right up there with the very best...

By Mark Diggins