It’s been 4 months since The Blinders released part one of their two-part EP, Electric Kool Aid, which is set to come together to be released as their third album next month. Since then, The Blinders have supported The Cribs on their massive UK tour and have played a sold-out intimate gig at The Social in London, and now, this Friday sees them release the meaner, darker part two of Electric Kool Aid.
The EP opens with, Ritual Of The Crocodile Men – a track that featured heavily in the band’s headline tour last Autumn. Re-introducing listeners to a more raucous side to The Blinders, Ritual Of The Crocodile Man sees them quite literally pull a blinder, infused with sacrificial indie rock that is propelled by the guitar-work of vocalist Thomas Haywood and guitarist Eoghan Clifford, as tension builds at the song’s half-way point before exploding into chaos.
Just To See You sees the band dip their toes into post-punk, introduced by the bass lines of Charlie McGough that work harmoniously alongside the drum patterns of Thomas Castrey to create a perfect blanket around catchy, anthemic lyrics that see The Blinders’ new dawn enable them to return at their strongest yet.
The EP’s lead single, Fight For It, feels like a brand new listen within Electric Kool Aid (Part II). Swirling synths and fuzzy guitars work together to form a dreamy, psychedelic track that sees the band display their individual talents in an optimistic number that is set to allow fans to combat their daily tribulations head-on.
Acid Bath allows the group to cement themselves as a dexterous band with strong capabilities. A kaleidoscopic number with the unexpected addition of violins that pave the way for the unraveling of what could easily be the band’s strongest track to date. At just under 5 minutes long, Acid Bath ticks all of the boxes – with spoken word at its climax, the track proves the versatility of The Blinders.
Pushing itself forward as potentially The Blinders’ strongest set of tracks to date, Electric Kool Aid (Part II) feels like a nod to their earlier releases whilst hinting towards what the future might hold. Both parts of Electric Kool Aid show different sides to he band – yet both work hand-in-hand to produce what will become a staple in their discography in form of their third album.
