The early 00s saw the rise of Nu Metal, The New Wave of American Heavy Metal, and a concentrated effort to revive Classic Rock. Amongst all of that there was a small pocket of UK based outfits forging a successful post hardcore and rock scene. Bands like Funeral For a Friend, Million Dead, Hundred Reasons & a slew of others were making big waves and changing the game.
Keep This Up then are keen to bring you back to that time with their latest release Paper House, an E.P that is full of nostalgic high energy and tons of charm.
Fire Bottle is aptly named and kicks things off like a tightly coiled viper ready to strike. The buzzsaw guitars and highly anthemic chorus make you stand up and take notice. The “Don’t tell us what you’re thinking, because we don’t give a fuck” refrain in the chorus is full of delicious, snotty attitude.
Find Myself and Lost both bring a level of melodic melancholia, with huge riffs and emotionally fraught, heart ripping lyrics they look to anchor the e.p is a level of honest emotionality.
As Above/So Below brings back the heavy It’s a punchy number with hulking thrashy riffs, death growls and gang vocals. It’s as close to perfecting a made for festivals hardcore songs as it gets, and it will sound mammoth when deployed in the live setting.
Bury Me & Paper Houses round the E.P out with stirring melodies and close to the bone lyrics, seeing things go out with the same kind of punch as they started out with.
Keep This Up have crafted a confident and self assured debut which grabs the listener by the ear with both hands and never lets go.It’s nostalgic without ever being cloying, managing to showcase the bands reverence for the past and their eye for the future. It’s well worth your time and with any justice it will be the soundtrack to many a summer bbq with friends over the coming months
