In a sonic explosion that reverberates through Brighton’s labyrinthine basements, Epsom Salts unveils ‘PIG!,’ a debut single laden with noise-punk volatility and relentless experimentation. This four-piece —Shea on vocals, Jake wielding the guitar, Kristian anchoring the bass, and Robin on drums—ushers in an audacious ethos of ‘pure fucking punky goodness,’ a sentiment that’s as unfiltered as their music.
“We didn’t want to glaze over our debut single, expressing rage towards the mismanagement and lack of trust that so many people have towards the Police in the UK… ‘PIG!’ opens with the chant of ‘peaceful protest,’ putting activism at the forefront of the tracks meaning, and our harsh instrumentation builds even greater tension before ending on a chaotic spiraling finale.”
In a cultural climate fraught with discord and distrust, particularly against the police, Epsom Salts doesn’t mince words or soften blows. ‘PIG!’ emerges as a provocative anthem that grapples with issues of systemic homophobia, racism, and misogyny, deploying the archaic term “pig” to tackle these serious themes. It’s a volatile track that resounds both in message and form, connecting with the activist core of Brighton’s scene.
“‘PIG! is our most experimental track, so by releasing it as a debut we’re hoping to solidify ourselves as artists that don’t slot perfectly within noise-rock, but float between sounds… Brighton is such an inspiring place to be based, and we’re lucky to fall into the same settings that saw Lambrini Girls, SNAYX, and many more artists kick off their bands too.”
No strangers to the city’s variegated soundscape, Epsom Salts traverses the sonic territories of noise, punk, hardcore, and post-punk. The band takes inspiration from local stalwarts as well as larger influences like Swans, Gilla Band, and Protomartyr. Their resulting sound evokes a sense of untamed freedom, a quality that serves them well in Brighton’s effervescent noise-rock scene.
“We’re a noise-rock quartet from the south east, and after our first show back in August 2022, we’ve been lucky enough to play with some pretty notable artists… We’ve always done things DIY too, which has done us huge favours when getting our first shows in the bag.”
Having been childhood friends who first picked up instruments together back in 2014, the band members of Epsom Salts come with a shared history that augments their musical synergy. Their roots in DIY culture have not only facilitated notable collaborations with artists like Soul Glo and The Oozes but also paved the way for an exciting lineup at the upcoming 234 Fest at Brighton’s Green Door Store—a show that promises to be an unmissable event.
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As Epsom Salts moves ahead with future projects, including another single recorded with the formidable Brighton-based duo of Alessandro Kogolo and Sam Allen, their ascent seems inevitable. ‘PIG!’ serves not only as a harrowing debut but as a galvanizing manifesto for a band unwilling to play by any rules but their own.
