On their first full-length album
Less of Everything
, U.K.-based punk quartet
ES
strike a particular balance between the dismal minimalism of goth rock and the vibrating fury of punk. Guitar-free instrumentals made up of drums, synth, and chorus-drenched bass feel inherently spacious, leaving plenty of room for
Maria Tedemalm
's vocals to push the songs forward. The album starts with one of its strongest songs, "Chemical." Interplay between nervy rhythms and frigid synth lines recall more punk-leaning
Factory Records
bands like
Section 25
and
Joy Division
while
Tedemalm
sings of exhaustion and mental angst. Themes of claustrophobia and a crowded internal world resurface throughout the album.
Katy Cotterell
's propulsive bass lines provide the fuel for many songs, with driving yet melodic parts for standout songs like "Foundation" and "Unsavoury" adding hints of color to the band's greyscale tones.
remains in more or less the same gear for its duration, with each of the nine songs landing in a similar place. It's an icy album that expresses anxiety, dread, and upheaval with a poker face. Even when
is shouting about apocalyptic destruction and the band is bashing at full power on "Kingdom Come,"
transmits their darkness from a cool, controlled distance. This shouldn't be confused with restraint because there's no holding back here. Instead, the detached intensity of
just amplifies its mysterious energy. ~ Fred Thomas