EP: Asylums – ‘Wet Dream Fanzine’

Asylums claim to “want to take you on a trip back to the days of chainsaw guitars and chaotic fun” and they do make a pretty good attempt at doing that. Playfully experimenting with fast and aggressive punk with a pop centre, the band from Southend-On-Sea have been shrouded in mystery thus far.

Deliberately avoiding social media, based on the idea that none of the artists they love in the ’90s used it to be successful, the band have now decided it would be time to utilise the technology available to them in order to share their music with their growing community of a fanbase.

Their debut EP, Wet Dream Fanzine, has licks of great DIY post-hardcore artists combined with a natural and seemingly effortless British swagger that can only really develop in this country. The title track and opener is a high energy two and a half minute number with great whirling guitar, seemingly reflecting an explosive live performance in a recorded format.

A simplistic début in its nature, Asylums are certainly not afraid of portraying chaos in its most stripped back and straightforward way. The release is actually only 5 minutes and 73 seconds long and bursts through consistently with each track portraying a visceral energy that the band clearly use as a catalyst for their humour and juvenile tone.

Asylums have the potential to be a great live act, and with the first release under their belt, the recordings seem to be set to follow in a similar fashion.

Wet Dream Fanzine is released on 23rd February via Cool Thing Records.

Joshua Nicol

@JDNicol

Josh Nicol

Josh Nicol

Manchester-based writer and promoter. Currently putting on gigs for Glass Onion. Contact me at joshnicol@live.co.uk.