EP Review: The Howlers - 'Further Down The Line'
The self-proclaimed East London Cowboys are back with their latest EP ‘Further Down The Line’ and are showing again how much they want their music to break the mold and go against conformity.
Fueled by political frustration, personal reflection and determination to find a better future, this EP is nothing short of a banger. It's no wonder some of the tracks have already been featured on the soundtrack of Ryan Reynolds’ and Rob McElhenny’s Wrexham series and has caught the eye of BBC Introducing. The boys are keen to show that whilst the tracks deal with heavy and important subjects, they had a blast producing the record and have been teasing fans with jokey behind the scenes videos in the recording studio. Creating a sound they have dubbed ‘desert rock’ they dedicate their music to ‘anybody who wants to escape the monotony of everyday life, anybody who wants a break from the anger & frustration found in the post punk movement’. While their previous EP was about the grief and difficulty of living in a locked-away COVID, the rawness in this album comes from a place of existentialism and while deeply reflective and introspective has with it a hope and excitement for what is yet to come.
‘Nothing to Lose’ sets the tone of the EP and with a genuine honesty speaks to everything the boys have been through together. They articulate that over the last few years, they’ve had their fair share of horrible experiences as both individuals and as a band, but the fact they are here and continuing to thrive is a testament to their bond and their determination. There is little room left for introductions nor pleasantries as front man and lead vocalist Adam explains that they start as they mean to go on; in motion.
‘You got me running, don’t know why / but nothing’s gonna break my stride’
The lyrics reflect what is happening melodically-after a brief static the rhythm section comes in all guns blazing and takes the listener off their feet whether they’re ready or not. The boys wanted this release to hit the ground running and this punchy introduction does just that, literally and sonically. Their sound from the offset can’t help but make you want to move to the beat, something illustrative perhaps of their determination to move away from the norm and exist within a subculture genre of their own making. Everything about the track screams out individuality and the energy of wanting to stand out from the crowd is infectious. The chorus is brought in by drummer Cameron who builds up the anticipation before Adam belts out
‘So I’ll get high, you get low / Oh I’ll get high when I’ve got nothing to lose’
It’s the perfect track to kick off the EP. While the guys are very self-aware, explaining that they know they’ve ‘got to give something’, they also want you to know that they don’t need your gratification or approval. They don’t need to prove themselves nor their music, they just want to have a good time.
Second comes the EP’s namesake, ‘Further Down the Line’. The track opens with a reworking of the exact guitar chord used in ‘The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly’ and immediately takes you into the world of old Western cinema. The image of cowboys and the desert has become synonymous with the band and as the song progresses, it becomes clearer why they started the track this way. Over the course of the first verse, the melody modulates around this chord but there is a constant echo of what started in the beginning. There is a suggestion sonically here that the guys are talking about how they are evolving as a band and crafting their sound; whilst they want to stay true to the message and aesthetics they created when they first came together, they also are keen to see where else they can go. In the chorus Adam reveals that he is beginning to come to grips with what it means to grow up and mature as a person.
‘Move a little further down the line, move a little further down the line / Sometimes I feel I understand what it takes to make a boy a man’
The crooner vocals and the guitar blend together through this section and give the track a real fluidity. The guitar riff solo which comes after the chorus really ties the melody together and compliments beautifully the growl and rasp in Adam’s tone. The sense of motion apparent in the opening track, whilst perhaps slowed down, remains a constant and even in sections where the vocals are isolated and played alone there is a continuous drive forwards which permeates through the song. The track is cleverly self-referencing in this aspect – as the lyrics talk about moving further down the line, the melody pushes the song forwards, and the motif and allusions to the western fantasy illustrate how the band has evolved and grown.
The third track is ‘The Boy I was Before’. The track kicks off with a punchy bassline and beat before the vocals come in with a chant. From the start there is a youthful quality to the sounds you hear – nostalgia of school days and being a teenager are images which immediately come to mind. This is reflected in the lyrics:
‘every kid in the neighborhood knows it’s not where you’ve been but where you’re gonna go / I know you’ve got what I’ve been searching for, you know I’m not the boy I was before’
So much of this EP is exploring growth. In this track, the theme is far more literal as the guys evoke familiar images from their childhood. It speaks to the idea of the boyhood fantasy; the desire to stay young in spirit whilst being seen and treated as a man. The angst is embodied by the guitar distortion and as chords are repeated and bashed out you get a real feel for the frustration the guys are referencing. It’s fascinating to see these types of discussions in music as this kind of perspective is often shied away from. It offers a brilliant commentary on what it means to be a young man and trying to find yourself and the music video which features home video footage from the guy’s own lives brings real insight into the real people behind the tunes.
The closing track, and my personal favourite, Autumn Leaves, is by far the most emotional on the EP. It opens with just the gentle strums of a guitar, giving the reader a much needed chance to take a moment, breathe, and process the events of the last three songs. Adam’s tone is raw and vulnerable as he sings about love, dreams and warmth. The verses embody the feeling of autumn and have a sweetness to them that feels at times like a lullaby at the end of a crazy night of fun. There is a spirituality to the lyrics that wasn’t present in the previous tracks which give space for deeper meaning:
‘as I hold you in my arms I will keep you safe from harm, in the light of the breaking dawn you’ll heal my, you’ll heal my, you’ll heal my aching heart. You’ll heal my aching heart. You’ll heal my aching heart. You’ll heal my, you’ll heal my, my’
Adam mentions the necessity of love in the track and this idea of needing to love and be loved resonates most in the chorus. There is a suggestion that there has been substantial pain and loss, something which given the last few years is a theme we all can identify with. This track concludes the theme of growth which has been centric to all 4 tracks and explains that there is no growth without love. The Cowboys have taken us on a journey and shown us all aspects of who they are. We started with the unapologetic determination to follow your own path and by the end it has been revealed that that path is best when it is shared with others. As the song finishes and we have come full circle, there is a sense of catharsis and renewal. While listening to the EP in order leaves you fulfilled and warm, it is intriguing to think about how this same experience will feel when you hear the guys live. With a few shows lined up, you can guarantee I will be in line for tickets.
Words by Kirsty-Ann Thomson
