Anti-consumerist ire fills 'What Now,' an orchestral grunge behemoth with big ambition and a stadium-filling sound that provides the lead for this 3-track EP from Cardiff's StopMotion Men. I don't need to read the accompanying press release to figure out that these guys like Muse. It might be well-intended, but it's just that bit too sincere, too straight-faced, too right on and too OTT to be emotionally engaging or truly convincing.
There's no shortage of bombast on 'Spit and Chew,' either, a rock monster that employs the classic quiet / loud dynamic, bolstered by more overblown orchestration. Again, the vocals are a stumbling block, as Geraint Connor's larynx veers between bleating and straining.
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'Hurt You' might boast some sweeping strings and a swell of emotion carried on an orchestral crescendo that builds toward the end, but ultimately, it's a rather standard 'heartfelt' acoustic number, on which the quavering vocals are rather too pained to be credible in their sincerity. I daresay this will appeal to many, who will absolutely love it, but I just can't relate.
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