One of the most exciting acts to emerge on the pop-punk scene in the last while, the four-track EP, and debut release, from the Manchester quartet packs a punch, announcing that Hot Milk have arrived on the scene, and they’re sure they’ll stay.
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Awesome
By Rachel D’Arcy
Following a number of support slots to some of the biggest bands on the UK scene, Hot Milk have finally released their ripper of a debut EP, Are You Feeling Alive?.
As one of the most exciting acts to emerge on the pop-punk scene in the last while, the four-track EP, and debut release, from the Manchester quartet packs a punch, announcing that Hot Milk have arrived on the scene, and they’re sure they’ll stay.
The synth-infused heavy riffs of opener “Wide Awake” are like a caffeine infused hit of what’s to come. The dual male-female vocals of Hannah Mee and Jim Shaw are interlaced in a way that compliments punchy melodies when needed courtesy of Shaw’s quasi-traditional pop-punk vocal, whilst Mee’s slightly more subdued – yet powerful – tones accompany the melody in such a way that weaves it’s way into your head, getting the track tapping your toe even after just one listen.
It’s a similar affair on Are You Feeling Alive?‘s other offerings. Electronic elements play a huge part on each track, putting a modernised, uniquely Hot Milk twist on a much-loved genre.
The power-pop emo mesh comes through its heaviest on “Take Your Jacket,” which also happens to be the first song that the band wrote together. There’s an angsty positivity to the lyrical content, as with the groove-inducing rhythm, and does a good job of summing up exactly what – or who rather – Hot Milk are.
The EP’s title track gets off to a slow start, but manages to keep you interested. Harmonizing accompanied by a slightly poppier riff keeps you on your toes waiting for the crescendo of a chorus. Rapid fire drums keep an edge to the disco inducing chorus, which is sure to get crowds moving at Slam Dunk, Reading & Leeds and the other major festivals the quartet play this summer.
Ironically, the closer to the EP is the first single from the release. “Awful Ever After” follows on from its predecessors to have that seemingly signature Hot Milk intro, a little pop infusion into the pop-rock water, but rounds out the four-song sampling nicely. It’s perhaps the most distinctive track on the EP, and one that invites you in for a listen or fifty.
Although it may seem as though Hot Milk are new to the scene, and potentially new to the game, the quartet have been sitting on the EP’s tracks for almost two years, working on perfecting their sound and lyrical content until they got it just right.
They’ve already got the backing of some of music’s heaviest hitters – including Radio 1 Rock Show host Daniel P Carter – so the much-hyped EP had a lot of hype to live up to.
And live up to the buzz, it does. I might be lactose intolerant, but this is one Hot Milk I’d be willing to risk it for.
