It is easy for a band to be overcome by their influences. It is certainly the easiest route to follow and The Feuds certainly sound more than familiar over the course of this EP. Fortunately, however, they will never ever be a wedding band.
Staring off with the grunged up Oasis influenced “I Just Need Your Love”, Michael Monaghan’s voice of the working class rocks out like there was something bigger than the back room of a pub to fill and does it all over the kind of simplistic guitars that would irritate if they weren’t so damn dirty. Keeping a steady course down the rock road is the manic “Going Out Of My Mind” with mental keyboards strongly supporting the song’s intentions before the retro charms of “Sister I’m A Prophet” change the band’s direction into something a bit psyched out. Then with a crash bang wallop, it’s back to that grunged up Oasis vibe for “Calientapollas”. Goodnight and goodbye and they’ve drunk all your beer.
The Feuds are certainly rough and untidy here (and the sound and production similarly lack finesse) but they have a very evident energy and commitment that so many bands lack. With a bit of care they could be massive but, for now, they’ll have to settle for being the kind of band that punches you in the face and then buys you a beer. Crank it up for that’s the way it should be.