Artist: CodeJAK
Title: Hell Yeah
Type: EP
Label: AWM Records

A nifty little hard rocking EP here and one that kicks out the jams from a new band hailing from Barrow NW England. Apparently they have played support slots with some pretty diverse bands such as The Futurheads, The Buzzcocks and The Sugarbabes (but never mind the last one). They are heading out on a 20 date tour with The Rocket Dolls in Feb another band who’s EP also turned up with this one and sounded pretty good on the one spin I had time to give it before sending off for another scribes dissection.

The three songs here are a taster of hopefully will develop in the future to a full length album as this is pretty strong and enjoyable stuff. First up is ‘Hell Yeah’ which comes in running at full tilt boogie before slowing down and letting singer Johnny Regan slowly build into a huge chorus. It’s a tried and tested method yelling a songs title out loud and repeatedly but it works here, delivered at maximum velocity and is hard to ignore. Guitars are also at hand to jam away with a bluesy refrain and the soloing is well handled here too. Next up is ‘Pull Out Your Knife’ hmm in these times lets hope it doesn’t get adopted as a gang anthem or anything as it certainly stabs away at you. The main chorus here kind of has that same tempestuous feel as Rage Against The Machine’s ‘Bullet In The Head,’ to my ears and certainly has that kick ass quality about it even if the musicianship is a bit more subtle. I like the cover of the EP too illustrated in black and white with a kid brandishing a claret coloured blade. Last song is an odd one lyrically ‘Little Boy’ and could also be referenced on the cover. It deals with the grim subject or childhood abduction and musically accentuates it with a sombre tone. Without spoiling it anymore all I can say is go and check these songs out at the link below. I can see this band going somewhere and doubt it will be the last I hear of them.

http://www.myspace.com/codejak

Pete Woods

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