Review: Muscle Vest’s 'Hot Hot Hate' EP – a Hot Hot sound
Words by Zee Ahmed
IG: @zeelikeacookie
London’s Muscle Vest continue their noise punk led rally with their third EP ‘Hot Hot Hate’, out today. Released under Hertfordshire-based alternative indie label Prank Monkey Records, ‘Hot Hot Hate’ is packed with rage, adrenaline and anarchy that captures their furious live sound on record. ‘Hot Hot Hate’ follows Muscle Vest's 2021 EP ‘Live Laugh Loathe’ and split single with Struggles With Syntax called ‘God Doesn’t Love You’ released in July 2022.
The four-track EP was recorded in a single day at Hempstead Road Studios by Steph Carter (Gallows, Lyoness). Skillfully mastered by Alan Douches at West Side Music, the heavy vocals, grungy guitar riffs and gritty drums reflect the contemporary struggle of contemporary mid-life stagnation in a broken system perfectly.
The EP opens with ‘The Slaughtered Lamb,’ a real headbanger with no inhibitions and sets a good precedent for what is to come as we listen further. We see the band experiment with frequencies in the second track ‘Don’t Dream,’ and the hardcore vocals take the main stage. The third track on the EP, ‘Solitary Life’, was released as the lead single of the EP on 8 September this year and is a raw amalgamation of muddy bass and guitar riffs complimenting expressive, impactful vocals. Drummer Arun Dhanjal packs in a punch with sharp kicks and a tight snare with a powerful drum arrangement across all tracks. The EP concludes with ‘Fun Imaginative Murders,’ which plays with sound dynamics and is comparable to a revolutionary journey.
Elements of sound from the band’s influences (Whores, Chat Pile, KEN mode, Pissed Jeans) are evident, but Muscle Vest have done a brilliant job in stirring up their creativity, originality, and purpose to the existing hardcore, noise rock genre. Played live, this EP’s explosive sound has immense potential to draw in crowds to mosh pits, and the band’s message is candid and inspiring.
Released on 22 September 2022, ‘Hot Hot Hate’ is available digitally (download + stream) via Prank Monkey Records. You can also follow them on their Instagram @vestmuscle.
Muscle Vest will be on tour this November, so do not miss the chance to catch them live and enjoy these bangers:
23/10 - Canterbury - Lady Luck
02/11 - Sheffield - West Street Live
03/11 - Glasgow - BLOC
04/11 - Edinburgh - Sneaky Pete's
05/11 - Bolton - The Alma
27/11 - Hitchin - Club 85
About Zee
Zee Ahmed is a drummer who enjoys exploring the underground music scene and particularly loves all things punk and electronic. She currently live in Toronto, Canada where they work as a research consultant. Zee is passionate about diversity and inclusion in all spheres and is learning to play bass guitar.