Sheffield four-piece The Reytons are on an upwards trajectory. They have cultivated a reputation as a boisterous indie-rock outfit, bound in the musical culture of their city.
Their brand-new EP, May Seriously Harm You and Others Around You, delivers their trademark brand of fierce indie rock, with an abundance of energy and gritty guitar riffs.
However, what the band demonstrates with this EP is that there are hidden weapons in their arsenal, with glimpses into a sensitive side. The Reytons often depict working-class life in their music, documenting everything from sordid drinking sessions and failing accumulators to delusional open mic night regulars.
Glamour is not in the band’s vocabulary, and the EP sees the band take a dive into the struggles faced by those trying to make ends meet. The final track, ‘Shoebox’, is a hauntingly emotional dive into dire scenarios in which people use crime to provide for loved ones.
It is a blunt and candid insight into pressures of the poverty line, with poignant vocals from frontman Jonny Yerrell truly showing a soft side to the hard-nosed rockers.
When the EP can be toured, however, fans will be presented with many opportunities for chaos. ‘Red Smoke’ is a fierce, thunderous anthem delivered with a cocksure attitude and vigour. ‘Behind Enemy Lines’ delivers sharp blasts of electric guitar that build to a frenzied chorus, which is tailor-made for energetic crowds.
‘Jealous Type’ is a rollercoaster of a track, switching the pace of vocals and flipping between clarity and distortion as Yerrell flippantly wrestles with a toxic relationship dispute.
The standout track is ‘Broke Boys Cartel’, a defiant indie anthem accompanied by snarly guitar and an infectious chorus.
The Reytons have already endeared themselves to their legion of adoring fans, but ‘May Seriously Harm You and Others Around You’ has the potential to set the band loose on an army of new ears.
