'Howlinwood' is a fun, eclectic and upbeat experience that has something for everyone.
Apparently this is album number five from German duo Eat The Gun, and I'm ashamed to say I'd never heard of them before. Ah well, you can't listen to everything but after sampling 'Howlinwood', I was definitely annoyed that I hadn't got into ETG earlier because they are pretty darned good.
The label that has been happily slapped on the band is "Alternative", which is usually a big red flag to me as I have heard waaaay to many albums with said label that limped along like a centipede after a crippling Dr Martens accident. It has a tendency to mean whiny, ball-less Rock by people with interesting beards, so I'm officially peeling it off of ETG because they frickin' well Rock like hell.
In fairness, ETG could be easily compared to the Foo Fighters, especially on the turbocharged and stupidly catchy second track 'Falling', which would sell a million if FF released it as a single. The band's own single 'How Does It Feel' has more of a Linkin Park vibe (although without the Rapping) and is a slow burner with a crunchy, anthemic chorus.
As with many bands, ETG are at their best when giving it "some welly" and slower tracks like 'Old Friend' let the album down a bit, but then again there's always 'Take It Away' to bring the mood back up again; it's another FF-esque Rocker.
So ETG are certainly a talented duo, with plenty of crunchy, melodic and heavy tracks that could make a good bit of cash if certain other bands released them. Hell, Oasis could make a successful comeback on the back of 'Electric Life' – but I'm glad Eat The Gun have kept them all for themselves.
'Howlinwood' is a fun, eclectic and upbeat experience that has something for everyone.
Alan Holloway
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