I stumbled across Scouge earlier this year when they were supporting Elvana and I happened to be selling merch for the mad-cap but excellent mash-up of Nirvana and Elvis. Thoroughly taken by their no-frills grunge as if they’d hopped in a TARDIS which has landed in 1991 Seattle and headed for the UK in 2023, it was a pleasure to watch them both nights whilst slinging merch for the headliners.
Drip-feeding their self-titled EP over the course of a few months, it’s now fully out in one self-contained item on your streaming service of choice – or better yet, chuck them a few quid on Bandcamp for it! Given that we’re far enough away from the heyday of grunge, we’re due a revival from younger bands powered by their parents’ nostalgia and record collection (see the classic rock boom of the last ten years). And you know what? This trio do it as damn good as the progenitors.
Armed with one guitar, one bass and one set of drums, it’s the exact stripped-back nature you’d expect and want from a band like this. Opening track “Anxiety” evokes hints of In Utero-era Nirvana and whilst the vocals don’t sound as world-weary as Kurt Cobain’s final years. As the song kicks into life with its squealing, jagged guitars, you know before the rest of the EP has played you’re in for some classic grunge.
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With songs revolving around the afore-mentioned anxiety, focusing on the future and the trappings of modern living and the rat race, it’s nothing incredibly new but it’s the relatability, authenticity and blend of direct yet veiled lyrics which ensure you won’t roll your eyes. “Tin Pot” is as sharp and violent as an IDLES song from either of their first two albums, whilst “Push” has the upbeat aggressiveness of Foo Fighters mixed with the darkness of early Stone Temple Pilots, its rumbling bass line in the verses could have come straight from Core. “Gold Obstacle” is slightly more mellow in its delivery with cleaner vocals to mirror the wake-up call needed for 21st century living.
If you’re a Gen X kid who grew up during the grunge explosion and want something new – you’re going to love this. If you’re younger and touched all the benchmarks and want to explore some new artists, you won’t be going wrong with this. It won’t change. your mind if you didn’t like grunge to begin with but then again, it was never for everyone in the first place. Scouge know exactly who they are and who they want to be. They’re a tight, well-polished band without being too slick that the point is lost. They work as one cohesive unit to serve the song and know how to make a hell of a racket. This is the kind of special EP – it’s one that is already great but shows such promise that the next release is going to have high standards to live up to.
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Scouge is out now
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Header image by Danny Payne Photography
