EP Review: VLURE - 'Euphoria'
Much like the Corona virus, it feels like VLURE have been around forever, yet both only came to prominence at the end of 2019 with the latter releasing live video ‘DESIRE’ and the former unveiling something slightly less desirable.
Fast-forward a couple years and the band have brought out a steady influx of tracks since, including recent singles, ‘Show Me How to Live Again,’ ‘HEARTBEAT,’ and ‘I Won’t Run’ which all feature on this their debut EP, ‘Euphoria.’
The Glasgow quintet’s debut bottles all the mayhem of their claustrophobic live shows in a caffeine-fuelled explosion of noise which is reminiscent of the no holds barred style of the late great Dale Barclay’s Amazing Snakeheads and Avalanche Party. ‘Show Me How to Live Again’ is a ferocious start with vocals that don’t back down and post-punk guitar lines which pipe in further uneasy atmosphere.
Without wanting to throw tartan paint on my fellow Scots, ‘Heartbeat’ could seamlessly fit into one of the Trainspotting films in a scene where the shit’s about to monumentally hit the fan. The menacing synth rebounds around the track like a modern slowed-down hybrid of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s ‘Relax’ and ‘Techno Syndrome’ the tune from the 90s Mortal Kombat film. Not sure if that’s an offensive comparison or not so I’ll move on.
It’s not all a wall of noise, there’s milder moments to enjoy in the shape of ‘The Storm’ and final song ‘Euphoria’ which showcase more mellow tones, at least momentarily. ‘Euphoria’ could be the band’s finest to date. The production is a cut above and it’s the most varied and memorable takeaway from the five tracks on offer as it manages to utilise all that’s revered about the band.
Across the piece, ‘Euphoria’ is a strong first collection of songs that manages to leave you wanting more and longing for the day that Scotland allow fans to descend on a sweaty cellar in Sauchiehall Street to witness the launch both VLURE and their fans deserve.
Words by Richard Cobb
