New Irish Music: Nerves – Iarmhaireacht EP
by Killian Laher

Nerves are a four-piece noise band from Foxford, Co. Mayo, and they have just released their second EP.  It opens with a short snatch of conversation (iarthar), and then Takes A Second takes more than a few seconds to get started.  It’s a minute in before Kyle Thornton’s spoken vocals are heard as the industrial hum in the background gets louder before a cacophony of heavy, metallic riffs kick in.  The noisy sound here and elsewhere on the EP bears the hallmarks of producer Daniel Fox of Gilla Band.  Dirty Fingers has an almost ‘jock rock’ swing to it, but for the twists and turns across the track, as it shifts from (almost) rap metal to fuzzed-out riffing and roared vocals.  Through My Chest is a different animal altogether, starting with two minutes of moody rumbling before a fearsome guitar assault, guitars that just absolutely slay.  It’s one of the finest Irish songs of the year.

Act of Contrition opens with Thornton’s menacing vocals and heavy guitars mixed with passages of ambient keyboards before the guitars return to chase you to the confession box.  It finishes with Don’t Let Go which again has what sounds like a distant keyboard whine before a danceable beat arrives, leading to a noisy crescendo.

Not a million miles off Gilla Band but with added metal.  Everyone needs some brain-crushing guitars from time to time, and Nerves do it with originality.  Get it here https://nerves-ire.bandcamp.com/album/iarmhaireacht

Dirty Fingers