Lewis Sharman, Tom Roper, Ed Crisp and Jonny Gaymer are best friends. They’re also Best Friends, a garage pop band from the United Kingdom who are just as lovable as your old childhood buddy and probably twice as memorable. Now I’m not saying you and your BFF didn’t share some special moments over the years, but it’s pretty hard to ignore the immense talent coming from these guys.
UK four-piece Best Friends are on the cusp of releasing their Hot. Reckless. Totally Insane. and the manic surf madness is at its best on Holy Mountain.
Best Friends began smashing out slacker tunes in 2011, after deciding to pay homage to “A time when three minute pop songs transported you from your miserable maggot existence to a blissful state of nirvana, guitar tones fried your brain and hygiene was a dirty word”. Since then the four-piece have upheld this concept, breathing life into light-hearted thrash music. It’s the kind of organised chaos that sounds messy but is technically super well-crafted making the band even more appealing.
Now finally, four years after their conception, the boys are set to release their debut album Hot. Reckless. Totally Insane and it was well worth the wait.
Holy Mountain is the latest offering from the Sheffield group, joining Happy Anniversary and Nosebleeds to round out an impressive list of singles so far. The three minute song packs a huge punch, combining kickass riffs with strung out vocals to create some serious texture. If you’re new to join the Best Friends fan club then you’re in luck, Holy Mountain is the perfect example of what the band does best – upbeat thrash with an underlying sweet indie melody.
Compared to some of the more surf rock sounding songs on the album, Holy Mountain provides a nice contrast by showcasing Lewis Sharman’s almost screeching vocals against a blurry backdrop of fuzz infused guitars. Each chord is played with strength and each cymbal is hit with purpose, a refreshing quality that runs throughout Best Friends’ discography.
The combination of Best Friends’ punchy music with their easy going nature makes for an album that works just as well in a sweaty live setting as it does being played at your mate’s backyard barbeque. Holy Mountain is a standout on this long-awaited debut, serving as a high energy number that’s near impossible to switch off.
Like what you heard? You can find Holy Mountain as the second track of Best Friends’ debut album Hot. Reckless. Totally Insane. The album will be available August 28 on digital download, CD and vinyl via Fatcat Records.
