Grasping the garage rock mantle with both hands, Bad Mannequins have taken inspiration from the likes of New York Dolls, Ramones, The Black Keys and Electric Six, offering a fresh take on a familiar sound for a new generation.
Debut EP Deny Til U Die Part I, the first EP of a three part trilogy, showcases the band’s ability to use fuzzy guitar solos and genuinely funny, yet acerbic, lyrics to great effect; elevating the Glaswegian two-piece above many contemporary garage rock bands.
Lead single I Hate You sets up proceedings perfectly with its fast paced, rock ’n’ roll style and memorable hooks, laced beautifully with an eminently danceable drum beat. The single flows perfectly from section to section managing to captivate with a variety of guitar and vocal melodies that perpetuate the band’s forte of writing catchy tunes. ‘Buzz Killer Skinny Gene’ is another stellar offering with Bad Mannequins adding a 70’s style New York punk element to their sound, producing a song that the The Strokes would be proud of.
The second half of the EP, while not quite as immediate, offers a different side to Bad Mannequins. ’T-Shirt Collection’ a track that slows things down, illustrating the band’s diversity without losing their swagger, before leading into the final track ‘Under The Glass’; a song that hints at more to come from a band still wet behind the ears. Deny ’Til U Die Part 1 is an extremely positive debut release from this raucous two-piece and surely just the start of bigger things to come.
Deny Til U Die Part 1 by Bad Mannequins is out now via Triple Denim.