EP Review: Gurt - Survival of the Shittest
Reviewed by Tim Finch
When it comes to modern day British sludge outfits, there are three outfits that lead the way – Raging Speedhorn, Mastiff and Gurt. This weeks see’s the latter of the those three names release their latest offering with Gurt dropping their ‘Survival of the Shittest’ EP.
Many bands offer an EP as a gateway between albums, filling the void in the release/touring cycles. For Gurt, as the band confirmed to us last week, this release is more to get their heavy drone on the airwaves in readiness for the bands summer festival runs which includes Uprising, Mangatta and Bloodstock Festivals.
The three track offering opens with ‘Live Nation, Dead Scene’ a scathing attack on the company that has single handedly taken money out of the pockets of venues and bands for their share holders personal benefit. A topic that, quite rightly, should be shouted from the rooftops in order to topple the monopoly the company holds. Lyrical musings aside, the song is a sludge banger. A glorious opening riff, and drum beat that have the listener banging the head along from the off.
Title track, ‘Survival of the Shittest’ lyrically takes a swipe at those in power who seem intent to destroy the world for their own personal gain. Whilst musically this is a down and dirty tune, gritty guitars and a sickening bass line keep the sludge tones low and the pace slow. Gareth Kelly’s vocal screams layering menace atop of already angst-ridden tune.
The first two tracks see Gurt at their most serious from a content perspective, far removed from their classics ‘Bongs of Praise’, ‘Weed It And Weep’ and ‘Jazz Cabbage’. However, the power in the delivery sees the band set off on a trajectory that could catapult them onto bigger stages.
Closing out the EP there is a more upbeat ditty. A reworking of 2 Unlimited’s classic dance number ‘No Limit’. A riff that we all know so well from our youth (even if you think you are too cool to admit it, we know you love the original tune) yet it's dripping in sludgy fuzz goodness. The traditional vocal roles of Ray Slijngaard and Anita Doth replaced by Kelly’s growls and Black Mist, vocalist of hardcore band The Hell, rasping howl. If you thought this dance classic couldn’t get any better you were wrong, they prove that switching any tune up and giving it a Gurt make-over is just what the doctor ordered!
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