Some people say that the current climate warrants a punk revival, well guess what? It’s already here, and WACO’s second EP Deathless is a prime example of it.
You see, a lot of old-punks-who-are-now-dads-and-may-now-vote-Tory-but-they’d-rather-not-talk-about-it-thank-you-very-much may bemoan the lack of a ‘77-style burst of outrage and headline grabbing shenanigans. But the truth is that the UK punk scene is in amazing shape. Waco’s latest stint of tour dates, with the equally brilliant Brawlers and Bad Sign, is just one example of the wealth of great bands flitting around some of the smaller venues in the UK. While Deathless may not be full of spitting and outrage, it’s the sound of a generation which is making the most of a bad situation.
There’s something intrinsically likeable about the lyrical approach of lead vocalist Jak Hutchcraft in this album: relentlessly positive, but never preachy, tackling the bad with the good in a refreshingly honest stream of consciousness. While most of the tracks of Deathless are essentially about heartbreak, the subject is tackled with enough humour, wit and balance that saves it from being dragged down into over-sentimentality.
On ‘Coolangatta’, Hutchcraft laments that “you was heaven sent, I was ignorant to how much joy a single person could bring/you’re not happy I’m alone, no one’s fault but my own, but you know I don’t regret a thing”, closing a relatable tale of the peaks and valleys of every day love. The closest the EP gets to going full-on emo is on the opener ‘Mother Mercy’, which features a chorus of “Mother Mercy, why have you cursed me?”, which could be considered a little bit Sisters of Mercy in terms of phrasing, but its saved from mawkishness by an unexpected gospel turn that underpins the vocals, paradoxically making it sound celebratory.
This is just one example of the subtle yet great song-writing that underpins Deathless. WACO are the product of a wide array of influences, with songs ranging from straight ahead mosh-pit punk on ‘Feed your Head’, to sweet balladry on ‘Best Friend’. Perhaps the pinnacle of this is the opener (‘Mother Mercy’), a bold track that nearly reaches the six-minute mark in length. It’s ambitious and progressive, and swings from Pixies-on-steroids riffing to gospel harmonies without missing a beat. For a five track EP, WACO packs in a whole lot, while never making a note sound forced or out of place.
Deathless is yet another prime example of UK punk providing a relatable soundtrack for a generation struggling to find its feet, but perhaps more importantly for WACO, it’s the sound of an underground sensation in the making. Just two EP’s into their short career, they already have found a unique sound and perspective. This makes Deathless a must listen to anyone with an inkling of passion for indie, punk, or just, y’know, good music.
