Recently Newcastle alt rockers Ten Eighty Trees have brought out their latest EP ‘Maybe I Like The Misery’. They’re continuing the celebrations of this release with a headline show at their city’s Little Buildings venue.
The trio claim their EP is a five track exploration through the pressures and stress of modern living. There’s also a lovely pinch of existential dread thrown in for good measure. Cheers boys. Before I go into it, I’ve got to take you back to a marvellous scenario and key reference point in the band’s EP…
During the Christmas special of TV comedy Father Ted, Mrs Doyle is pitched with the prospect of owning a contraption that supposedly ‘takes the misery out of making tea’. She responds ‘Maybe I Like The Misery’.
Yes, a comic hint of everyday obscurities, this sentiment is also present in much of this existential EP’s five songs. As the band suggests, it’s the age-old idea that a lot of creativity and inspiration can come out of the darkest times in your life. For that reason, those times are a necessary evil.
The EP kicks off explosively with ‘Running Back 2 U’ exploring the tender idea of unreciprocated love. Straight away the first track presents an urgency about it – sparked by the motoric, near-exhausting drumbeat (a common theme throughout the EP). Although this one is about a one-sided love, the band have concocted a tragically potent mix. On the one hand, there’s the positivity of an uplifting riff and great collective harmonies. Then, there’s the subject matter itself and these siren-like guitar noises in the background. A great juxtaposition.
Following this, is the mayhem and power of ‘The Incubator’. As soon as it started, a smile hit my face. There’s those harmonies again, as the boys explore yet another deep theme – social anxiety. The song tees you up with a light guitar and thumping bass before a riff so jagged and metallic, I either want to jump a row of buses on a dirt bike or sprint towards a Royal Rumble ring, chair in hand. The mayhem is MORE than welcome here.
Next, we’ve got a slightly more of a mellow track that looks to burn out as the band continue to pour their mental hardships into the music. ‘Wear Me Down’ begins with a slithering gothic Nirvana-like riff. It holds this velvety quality that contrasts the harshness of the drum snares before a lamenting vocal breaks into euphoric screams that tell of self-inflicted pressures wearing the narrative down.
“It’s the pressure I put on myself that wears me down”.
‘Never Let U Down (Again)’ implies a certain remorse from the lead. After “not looking for forgiveness” but taking it if it’s given, this one from the band seems to have a note of self-reflection and responsibility in a failed relationship. It’s about working to improve and not wanting to let the other down again.
After this somewhat pensive thrash, the EP concludes with the anthemic stature of ‘Can’t Live Twice’. Flange-and chorus guitar tones are slapped by an interrupting rhythmic guitar sequence that the Darkness would be proud of. Then the trio fly into heavy introspective questioning. What is life really worth if you don’t have time to enjoy it?
It’s safe to say, I agree with the band’s mission statement:
“This is Ten Eighty Trees pushing the alt rock envelope, evolving into a leaner, more streamlined beast all whilst maintaining the staple intensity and intoxicating song writing style.”
Get listening now.