It’s been out for a while, but alternative rock outfit The Owls have managed to deliver a solid, bass-heavy and majorly rockin’ EP that will have you wanting to head bang or show of your killer air guitar skills, whatever you fancy. Own The Streets features 6 songs, delivering the perfect recipe of a well-rounded, 20 minute alternative rock experience. Catchy vocals, excellent instrumentals and a rough, garage production feel that adds the perfect element of reality.
Opening track ‘Oceans’ commences with a deep bass riff that will have you bopping away. Serving as an excellent introduction and establishment for the remainder of EP, ‘Oceans’ hints at clear influences from classic rock bands of yesteryear and today’s highly popular sounds of Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood and The Rubens, allowing both the track and the EP as a whole to demonstrate a mixture of past and present lumping together in a way that perfectly blends. The vocals are insanely infectious, with a chorus that will leave you long after the first listen.
Second track ‘Kraków’ is a favourite of mine as it is the epitome of a feel good rock song. Both instrumentals and vocals combined, it delivers an upbeat tone that has an infectious energy. The killer guitar solos are not overpowering, the lyrics are sultry and even though it is the shortest track at 2 minutes and 43 seconds, it’s short sweet and up tempo vibes are worthy entertainment.
The titular track ‘Own The Streets’ offers more acoustically driven sounds, yet still has that punchy and sharp edge these guys seem to deliver superbly.
The only flaw I found in this EP was that even though it delivered an excellent sound that is right up my music alley, it was nothing I hadn’t heard before. The musical influences of today’s alternative rock bands are very clear, and at times I felt like I was not listening to an original band but another Royal Blood single. This being said, these guys deliver a sound that will be familiar to many fans of bigger rock bands and have the potential to reach a solid demographic as their popularity grows in the future.
The Owls are releasing their debut album in January 2016, and ‘Own The Streets’ is a catchy collection of tracks that easily slot into the current alt rock atmosphere, with great taste of what is to come in the near future. I hope I eventually get to see these guys live, as you can guarantee I will be in that front row dancing my socks off.
Review Score: 7.8 out of 10
Own the Streets is available now.
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