For Newcastle indie-punks, Fast Blood, 2019 was their first year as a band, and in their own words it was, “a solid year of business”. The quartet released their well-received single, You, back in November, as well as sharing the live stage with the likes of Martha, Jeffrey Lewis and Mannequin Pussy. The band are currently building towards the release of their debut EP, due to be shared later this year, and today we’re premiering the latest taster from it, Milo.

Milo seems to pick up where You left off, with a swirl of blistering guitars, cut through by the wild clattering of drums, and the distinctly North-Eastern twang of vocalist Abi Barlow’s yelping vocal. Fast Blood’s sound seems to be equal parts contemporary UK DIY-Punk and mid-noughties, US-emo; equally likely to appeal to fans of Just Blankets or Q And Not U.

Lyrically, the track seems to explore the anxieties many people feel about the world around us, as the band put it, “good people trapped in a society looking evermore inwardly”. As Abi sings, “no matter how hard I try, nothing’s ever good enough”, you can feel the potent mix of anger and acceptance, as she struggles to find a sense of hope in the world around her. Fast Blood’s sound may take influence from the past, yet there world view is distinctly here, now, and very exciting indeed.

Milo is out tomorrow. Click HERE for more information on Fast Blood.