Fast Blood: Sunny Blunts review – a wallop of modern punk

After discovering that Fast Blood were the chosen opening act for Mannequin Pussy’s live show at The Grove in Newcastle, Alex Walden decided to give their latest album a deep dive to hear just what he missed out on. It’s safe to say that he was not disappointed.

In an age where social media reigns supreme in the world of artist networking, Fast Blood have proved that it is still possible to discover decent local artists the old-fashioned way. It was through a gig for Mannequin Pussy that I was introduced to the band as they were slated to be opening act for the night. Despite the gig eventually being cancelled, the band’s latest album, Sunny Blunts, has managed to put me at ease knowing that northern punk’s heart not only still beating but firing on all cylinders.

“It is going to rip the fucking eyeballs out of your head”

Yes, you read that right. It’s a very bold statement for a band to say in its press release that their new album is going to “rip the fucking eyeballs out of your head” however, what is even unbelievable is how Fast Blood can capture this feeling within just the first five seconds of the opening track. The moment you press play, an absolute barrage of drums, guitar and bass come crashing through your speakers at full power, swiftly followed by an almighty scream from vocalist Abigail Barlow. It’s like the sonic version of one of those wind-up toys that when fully wound, a boxing glove pops out and whacks you in the face. What makes it even more amazing is that Fast Blood keep this same cut-throat pace throughout the entire album. They don’t give up an ounce of energy for the remaining 30 minutes. There’s a real thump of burning passion behind the sound of this album, it’s as if your ears are being rushed by all four members.

I remember from merely the first 30 seconds of hearing this album thinking “fuck me these guys have got something to prove”. It’s as if they knew how I was prepared to view them as nothing more than an opening act and made damn sure they packed every second they could get their hands on with as much energy and aggression as they could possibly squeeze in. This album doesn’t just demand your attention, it grabs you by the collar of your shirt and pins you against the wall forcing you to listen to it!

This album doesn’t just demand your attention, it grabs you by the collar of your shirt and pins you against the wall forcing you to listen to it!

While the unique selling point of this album is definitely the relentless smack of their fast-paced tracks, the album does offer some slower sections which act as a moment to catch your breath. Eyes Wide Shut, Sunny Blunts and the first minute of Small Town are the best examples of this. While they do offer a bit of a variety in sound for the band, it does sound like they aren’t 100% finished workshopping it just yet. After all, when your driving factor is how as band you can produce fast, ornate, intense punk songs and not make it sound like an overstimulating pile of feedback, trying to tone it down to make a more relaxed sound can pose a real challenge and Fast Blood are no exception to this. In areas of the slower sections it does feel like it’s missing that heartiness to it at times but, to be honest with you, I don’t find it that big of a deal. After hearing such heavy hitters like Sexual Healing, Salvation and Pulling Teeth, I don’t find myself wanting something more chill – I want more of whatever is in that pile of controlled chaos!

A new wave essential

No matter how you look at it, punk is a very confusing space to be in right now. Much like any other alternative scene, there’s so much drama within it about following guidelines to make sure you’re not regarded as a “poser” that it can seem daunting to someone trying to get into it. Yet I’d go as far as to say on record that I’d recommend Sunny Blunts to someone who is trying to get into punk because as far as I’m concerned, it’s got all you need.

It’s got the speed and vocal ferocity that casts my mind back to the time that I first discovered Dead Kennedys’ music, yet the growl of the bass and the flashiness of the drums have that iconic pop punk style that you can’t help but marvel at due to how tight it all sounds. Even lyrically they’ve got you covered, my favourite line being “What happened to you, so full of hate / Are you still reading the Daily Mail? / Read right wing bullshit all day long / You’re a narrow-minded fucking scum”. After hearing that I completely lost it in excitement and shock. One of the key practices of punk is to use your angst to try change the world in some way and if you’re telling me that those lyrics don’t at least make you feel something or open your eyes somewhat, then clearly your speakers must be broken because you can’t be hearing the same thing me and feel nothing. 

If you’re telling me that those lyrics don’t at least make you feel something or open your eyes somewhat, then clearly your speakers must be broken.

But punk isn’t just about shouting about things you don’t like; one of my favourite tracks, Salvation, has a video accompanying it which shows off the bands chemistry and ability to stay authentic and genuine. It’s a funny video that reminds me of the days when I would shoot music videos with my friends back in high school. It really shows that this isn’t a band created purely with hopes of reaching stardom and raking in millions, you can tell that these guys just want to make good music and have some damn good fun in the process.

 

To conclude, Fast Blood have struck gold in the beauty of the sound of Sunny Blunts however, I don’t it’s one that they’re ready to fully toy around with just yet. I think it needs just that little bit of extra work before they can really run wild with it, but that’s okay because it’s still a bloody brilliant sound. From the tightness of the band’s time signatures to the character in their music videos, this band has managed to offer up so much of themselves that this piece of music feels truly alive, like it’s an extension of who they are. Yes it’s not 100% perfect, but who do you know that is? This album is more than a piece of music, it has a soul behind it, and you can hear from the moment you press play.

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