Kullnes - The Opener EP

Up and coming Scottish music prodigy ‘Kullnes’ plays his hand into 2021 with ‘The Opener’ EP. Last years 'Technicolor' EP showed great promise, showcasing a kaleidoscopic blend of over-exposed - as if in direct sight of blistering sunlight - soundscapes and moments of outright catharsis. And although it didn't make my top 20 EP's of 2020, it has gone on to become one of my favourite releases of said year.

Vocal performances across The Opener hark back to Interpol's debut album 'Turn On the Bright Lights' with their indifferent, mellon collie delivery. Interpol weren't the first band to wrap lyrics in shrouds of dread and tangible neglect, but they may well have been the best in that specific lane. The end of the EP's opening track - a 10 minute monolith aptly titled 'The Opener' - sounds like machine guns loaded with bullets of seering, elongated ammunition. A sound so obscure that it could have come straight out of a sci-fi flick.

'Spheres' strikes a balance between instrumental and vocal duties - both sullen and less juxtapositially inflicted in comparison with the other tracks on the EP. A downward spiral was on the cards - hand in hand, head first - and a downward spiral is most certainly played out. Too late to turn back, trudge onward indefinitely.

Fans of At the Drive-In's angular rhythms and Dinosaur Jr's hell for leather, over driven guitarwork should check this out. It has a bit of everything, but primarily emphasizes on instrumentally larger than life pieces. Have A Nice Life are another band that pull off the cacophonous soundscape style to incredible effect.