REVIEW: The Heat Inc. – The Heat Inc. EP (Melted Dino Records)
The Heat Inc. call themselves ‘London’s loudest rock ‘n’ roll band’ and if this debut EP is anything to go by they’re not kidding.
Sadly, the Covid-19 pandemic couldn’t have come at a worse time for the four-piece, who play the kind of music best enjoyed in a sweaty basement venue with like-minded souls.
The Heat Inc. are Jon Dodd (vocals), Nicolas Rigot (bass), Maurizio Vitale (drums) and Marco Simoncelli (guitar), and on the evidence of this first release they’re going to be a name to look out for.
The opening track is the full-blooded Down In The City, with heavy riffing guitars soon joined by a dirty, throbbing bassline, and the song unfolds into a slice of raucuous rock ‘n’ roll.
Second track Raptors, released as their first single back in June 2020, is slightly faster and carries a real air of menace, propelled by pounding drums and more swaggering riffs.
Things slow down a notch on Sammy Swing Easy, but it’s no less noisy or impressive, and reminds me a lot of Manchester-based alt-rockers The Blinders, which is obviously a very good thing indeed.
Polaroids is another slower, more atmospheric number, with a splendidly sleazy bassline, and the outro features a bit of sultry sax courtesy of Terry Edwards from PJ Harvey’s band. Then we finish in style with the anthemic Your After Love Song, a sturdy garage rocker released as their second single last October.
This record could easily be the excellent Jim Jones and one of his many ensembles – yes, it’s that good. The Heat Inc. seem to have arrived fully formed, and I hope it’s not long before they can hit the road again. In the meantime, you can stream this debut EP HERE and buy it on their Bandcamp page HERE.
