The None – ‘MATTER’ EP review: controlled chaos from Britain’s most intriguing new band
THE SKINNY: Since playing a string of live shows in small indie venues across the country earlier this year, The None have gained a dedicated following eager to see what they do next. The band emerged seemingly out of the ether, a collection of already-established musicians coming together for a new project with influences including noise rock acts like The Jesus Lizard and Shellac.
The band consists of various familiar faces, such as Gordon Moakes of Young Legionnaire (he was also once a member of Bloc Party), Cassel’s Jim Beck, Kalia Whyte of Blue Ruth and Youth Man, and Chris Francombe from Frauds.
Their blistering live sets have been enough to create a buzz around them, and after months of teasing music, The None have finally released their debut EP, MATTER, available via Bandcamp. Luckily, the energy and power of their live presence is on full display here, with thrashing riffs and pummelling drums sitting nicely alongside Whyte’s impressive and often incredibly melodic vocals.
Even though there are just four songs on the EP, The None spares no loose ends or moments of weakness. It’s a tight and relentless sonic journey that is both precise and wild, unrestrained but gloriously in control. These are highly skilled musicians who know what works best, and with every song, you can imagine limbs flailing through mosh pits and sweat dripping from the walls.
The None have crafted four songs that will certainly excite noise rock fans, although they know when to keep things mellow and when to give into their most raw and desperate impulses. The EP opens with ‘Plow’, where hypnotising guitars welcome Whyte’s shouted vocals. We’re instantly dropped into something almost scary in its power and certainty, wrapping listeners up in a thick wall of urgent instrumentation.
With the next song, ‘Railing’, a prominent bassline backs Whyte’s voice, which moves between buttery melodies and shouts. Their mutability works perfectly as the song moves from steadiness to chaos. The following song, ‘Pigs Need Feeding’, once again demonstrates their astounding vocals, which really elevate the band’s songs to greater heights. At times, Whyte’s voice wails like an alarm over pounding drums, courtesy of Francombe, and other times it is more menacing, quiet, and reserved.
The highlight is arguably ‘Cheap Cloth Soon Frays’, the final song. Opening with a section that echoes the speed of certain thrash metal acts, the band go full pelt here with hard and frenetic instrumentation, before contrasting them with quieter, building moments, allowing for these elements of release to feel even more rewarding. It’s the perfect close, moving between dark and light, drawing everything to a spectacular end.
Talking to Far Out earlier this year, The None discussed making music and performing, with Beck stating that “it’s just about finding your audience.” With MATTER, the band are certain to find themselves a bigger, dedicated fanbase, ready to rejoice in their “visceral” and energy-fuelled songs.
MATTER is an incredible debut EP that practically begs you to put it on repeat; four songs just aren’t enough. Each song is expansive and loud, practically bursting at its seams. There is not a single moment of complacency or unoriginality here, with The None proving themselves to be a vital new act in the British rock landscape.
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