The debut by Liverpool’s The Mysterines
is a grungy rock delight. Built on consistent song-writing (this is a record
that doesn’t dip), there is confidence and swagger here that is infectious. Reeling
is full of scuzzy riffs and rousing choruses, like on thundering opener
‘Life’s a Bitch (But I Like it so Much)’ or the aptly named ‘In My Head’ (it’s
an earworm alright). Even its softer moments – like the bash-ballad of the
title track – pack a punch. Lyrically, there’s some great stuff too, with a
power-over-patriarchy message that eschews victimhood. On ‘Hung Up’, for
example, Lia Metcalfe announces ‘My words like bullets through your heart / But
I will keep on trying / Cause I like to watch you dying.’ While ‘Means to
Bleed’ is a feminist call to arms. Metcalfe isn’t messing around. She leads her
band gleefully as they charge into next year’s festival circuit, which is just begging
for big, bold post-millennial rock like this. Reeling is great – just
the right mix of catchy and punchy. It’s another impressive debut album
from a band to watch.