OPUS KINK - "My Eyes Brother" EP review

Brighton band Opus Kink was born in 2018 and has since then cemented its position as one of the most prominent and cutting edge British bands.

"My Eyes Brother" follows their debut EP "Til The Stream Runs Dry", a statement piece that has given them a devoted fan base.

Opus Kink's music is an original brand of post-punk, jazz, and country-folk, filtered with an unmistakable latin groove. The bottomless pool of influences in which they swim freely never ceases to amaze us. Every new track holds a unique vision, feel, and perspective.

This EP is soaked in chaos, but despite its rough edges it holds magnificent story telling qualities. I think that this band is not praised enough when it comes to their powerful and almost "poetic" lyrical abilities. Their song writing is dark, visceral, and decadent. Frontman and vocalist Angus Rogers is also known for being a poet outside of Opus Kink. His goth-folk solo project "Painted Bird" is a must see when in Brighton.

I would say that Opus Kink is first of all "goth poetry". It is energy in its purest form, a loud call to freedom in which the younger generations can identify. Their live shows are addictive and emotionally charged, like sterling euphoria. I always say that after seeing an Opus Kink gig, very few other shows can compare. You definitely don't want to be the band playing after them at a festival!

"Chains", the opening track, starts with a very crisp and defined rhythmic line, followed by daunting choruses that almost mimic the chanting of a ritual. It's only half way through the song that we truly see Opus Kink's signature chaos unfolding. It is an explosion of instruments fighting against each other in an unstoppable call to war.

"Dust" follows, their first single release from "My Eyes Brother". This track sets the tone for what is to come: a crude, honest, and fragile journey into the dark pits of humanity. "Children" is for me the highest point of the EP, both musically and lyrically. Roger's vocals are rough and unsettling, totally mirroring the electronic daunting parts.

It's only when we get to "Tin Of Piss" and "Malarkey" that the tempo slows down, as if we were walking into a nightmare and frozen in time. These 2 songs are extremely well placed in the EP, giving us enough time to recover from the previous high-energy ones. They are a curious wander into the dark abyss of Opus Kink.

"Piping Angels" takes an even more experimental and Black Midi-like direction. It is quite interesting to see how the band seems to be moving towards this style way more as time goes and they get musically braver and more daring. I do however hope they won't lose their roots in the process.

All in all, I believe that this EP holds the perfect balance between the more melodically accessible initial works, and the experimental stylistic direction they seem to be going towards now.