★★★☆☆
Bin Juice’s live shows are a treat, having earned them a reputation within Sydney’s music scene for raucous, high-energy performances.
The guys play tight – and so they should, having formed in high school, gradually grown from a three-piece to a five-piece, and added what is now an integral part of their sound: sax. The result of more than five years of slogging it out in the Sydney and surrounding live music circuit is Episode IV.
The band has again teamed up with Ben Worsey of Everland Studios, and the result is a collection of tracks that exhibit the musical talents of each band member in a nice, tight package. However, the EP feels a bit lacklustre at times, failing to convey the energy and rambunctiousness of their live performances.
The most favourable moments are found on ‘Bubblegum Warrior’, which could be described as ‘the track most likely to maybe get some radio airplay’. The smooth baritone vocals of singer Eli Kwiet sit nicely against the organised rambling of the rest of the band.
The moral of the story: don’t judge a book by its cover, and don’t judge a group by its EP – sometimes you need to get out into the pit to really appreciate a band.
Bin Juice’s Episode IV is released indepently and available through Bandcamp.
