Painting By Numbers

Punk-core powerhouse Sir Killalot will find references to certain US outfits inescapable, yet while Liam Mulhall’s vocal has the unmistakeable ring of a joyously heavy Dublin accent, this record is the perfect antidote to the city’s music scene, where on one hand Sir Glen of Hansard is presiding over his church of corn-fed singer-songwriters and on the other, The Jimmy Cake are inspiring a cornucopia of indulgent post-rock instrumentalists.

Overall, the production of the album has a rawness that is not entirely dissimilar to that on Nirvana’s Bleach – in fact, this less than slick production seems intrinsic to the whole feel of the record. ‘Six Fifteen’ is a great example of how The Sex Pistols might have sounded had they grown up on the Northside, while ‘Painting By Numbers’ and ‘Everything’ evoke acts like Sick Of It All, NOFX or Rancid.

‘First In Line Stick The Boot In’, has an innocuous enough start, rendering the listener almost complacent. Thirty seconds, all hell breaks loose. If you’re young, impressionable and lucky enough to be starting your lifelong musical odyssey, the song is no doubt delightful and noisy enough. If, however, you are old and ugly enough to know your Pantera from your Pixies, there is a noticeable lack of (said in your best geriatric voice) a ‘choon’.

Sir Killalot makes music, it would appear, for a very small but dedicated audience. Very little of this album has the immediacy or melodic staying power of other such punk, metal and hardcore acts, but I suspect Sir Killalot’s lack of crossover appeal suits them just fine…