Review | dust – et cetera, etc EP

Alt-punk group dust’s debut EP ‘et cetera, etc‘ is a collage-like introduction to their sound, and it’s succeeded in making me hungry for more of them. Every track showcases a slightly different facet of the group’s songwriting abilities, from hard guitar riffs to moody and dark interludes. They do all have one thing in common: they make the listener want to immediately book a show and mosh to them. 

‘The Gutter‘ is a high-energy punk track full of shouty lyrics and distorted guitars, criticising existing social structures and class systems. It is a classic punk track, one to shout along to, and I find myself letting my frustrations out to the track’s beat. ‘Ward 52‘ is heavy on the drums and features a bass line that has potential to stay stuck in the listener’s head for days. 

The EP’s high-energy punk beats all come to a head on ‘False Narrative‘, which seems to hide a classic heartbreak story behind broad observations. “Let me follow the others”, Gabriel sings in the chorus, then becomes more vulnerable in the verse: “we are polar opposites”, he sings.

In the following track ‘Joy (Guilt)’, dust look deeper: “the key to love is happiness, and happiness is solely found within yourself”.

“I wanna be sad and I wanna be sad with you” another lyric goes, and that’s how I feel about the EP: it’s a companion for my sadness and anger, an outlet for my emotions. It’s a great showcase of dust’s talent – I look forward to seeing what they do next.

‘et cetera, etc’ is out now via Kanine Records.

Listen to the EP here: