Wasting no time after that recent split with Brotherhood Of The Lake in late 2011, the Bastards turn out this even fleshier, nastier delight. Clear progression has been made with this and their last EP, and they've no doubt taken more than just baby steps since first album 'Hellfire Reign'. After this it'd be fair to worry that they might not be your 'secret' band for too much longer.
This new self-titled EP boasts some of their largest, most damaging oil spill riffs, leaving no room for dead space. 'Lesser Gods' manages to unapologetically boil over with bile (Time's up and I'm calling you out/ people like you weren't built to last/ people like me were built to bring you down), all the while sending them further into stoner doom territory with that last two hazy minutes of the song having an Enter The Sabbath moment.
'I'm sorry but people just don't change/ we're born this way/ liars and backstabbers rule the day…' The reappearance of 'The Year Is One' was a great idea. They're certainly heading somewhere new, so why not take one of their best songs with them (and my personal favourite HTB song)? First released on their split with Brutality Will Prevail, it's got so much more brass now than before. They might have dropped the Charles Manson speech during the intro, but they recognised as we did this is one of their biggest songs and needs to be at the forefront of their charge. The Manson speech was a cool addition previously, but the 2012 incarnation has some serious stones on it and is an all round greater beast.
As the age old saying goes, "save the most crushingly-heavy for last", and HTB keep the tradition up with 'Rivers Edge'. Half headbanger, half nose breaker, all Pit Beast; this is the song that you don't want to be holding that £4 pint during at the gig.
For all the Apocalyptic imagery and Satanic soundbites, It certainly doesn't feel like the end of days; this is arguably the bands strongest release yet. Check those tour dates and don't miss out if you can help it.
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