Mud Shark

Bonzo Did It EP

Written by: PP on 13/03/2014 00:07:30

Oops, this one fell through the safety net and was forgotten about until discovered by me a couple of weeks ago, and thus promptly re-added to my priority review queue. Mud Shark is a Danish rock band from Århus, who released their debut EP "Bonzo Did It" in October last year. The four tracks on the EP primarily draw from alternative rock, but also contain a strong, characteristically dirty smell of stoner rock especially in the tone of the guitar distortion used.

Does that description ring any bells? Basically, that's what Queens Of The Stone age used to sound like before Josh Homme was possessed with god-complex and decided to push their sound into experimental realms where no other contemporaries on their scale are found. Think back to "Songs For The Deaf"-era and you essentially have Mud Shark. Their vocalist Alexander clearly holds Homme's style in high regard, and delivers a surprisingly mature and convincing performance throughout the record. Especially "Line Of Fire" impresses with its pop hooks in the chorus.

That said the band take a misstep from the get go with opener "When You're In Vain", which is almost eight minutes long. Nothing wrong with that, per se, but here the song starts off great but at least half of it feels unnecessary, and way too long for its own good. Especially when you compare it to the aforementioned "Line Of Fire" instead. "As I Lie Awake" slows things down again, and offers some playful guitars in the middle, but again I am missing the straight forward, yet oddly catchy conviction that "Line Of Fire" was played with. "Break Your Spirit Down" features more experimentation, but is decent nonetheless.

Overall the four tracks on the EP show promise. It's clear that Mud Sharks till need work to recognize the good bits out of the iffy ones. But "Line Of Fire" alone suggests they have potential. Let's wait and see.

Download: Line Of Fire
For the fans of: Queens Of The Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures
Listen: Facebook

Release date 01.10.2013
Self-Released

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