Red Eye Pariah are showcasing themselves as a superb bunch of songwriters on their latest EP Tequila King. A 4-song EP that ventures through the waters of alternative rock with elegance and confidence, Tequila King is gripping from start to finish.
A band from Northern Ireland, Red Eye Pariah are a 4-piece indie and alternative rock outfit capable of some of the freshest songwriting ideas that I’ve had the pleasure of listening to in a really long time. Formed some 3 and a half years ago, the outfit has been gaining traction in both their country and the UK at large, and listening to the caliber of songwriting on their latest EP, I can safely say it is all deserved.
The music on Tequila King is mostly based around jangly and melodic guitar lines, engaging song structures and dynamic vocals and rhythms. The songs on the EP are very tightly written around each individual member’s input to the songs, making each song feel purposeful and thoroughly enjoyable as you sit down and discern what each of the band’s 4 members is doing. ‘Words’ in particular, the EP’s 3rd song, is a testimony of this crisp songwriting style revolving around clear-cut melodies and distinct parts.
All the songs on the EP are exciting and upbeat in one way or another. Mostly written in major keys and with colorful vocal melodies, the vocal parts greatly emphasize the frontman’s elastic range and approachable timbre. The singing on the album sounds organic and also very engaging. With witty lyrics to go along, the 4 songs on Tequila King are equally pleasant from a vocal stand point, with pronounced and distinctive melodies. ‘These Daze Have Just Begun’ introduces the album with a dose of positivity and a sound that is centered around a vocal line prominent in the mix. With a conventional indie rock guitar rhythm track, the starter is arguably the album’s most straightforward and simplistic cut.
‘The Rounds’ follows, introducing the band’s knack for storytelling with melodic instrumental lines. With bouncy keyboards and intricate guitars, ‘The Rounds’ also introduces the band as confident musicians capable of crisp songwriting and delicate, engaging performances across the board. The vocals are again taking the center stage with long winded and well defined melodies, and patient, steady delivery. Taking note of the moderately shapeshifting bass and drum lines on ‘The Rounds’ will drive the point of the group’s songwriting skills safely home.
‘Words’ perhaps the cheerful, major sound of the rest of the songs with a sound that’s chic and with a healthy, alluring flair of darkness to its riff and melodies. The guitar solo is a welcome addition, and the bouncy vocal delivery is a joy to behold. ‘Words’ is without a doubt the EP’s most nuanced offering, and one of its most defined and memorable. With a mid section that breaks the tempo and returns with a fantastic reintroduction of the song’s main motif, it is also one of the album’s most engaging and fun. ‘So Long’ is an upbeat and chirpy closer that benefits from some amazing, tight rhythm chops and guitar noodling that. The climbing vocal phrase is one of the album’s sweetest details, and the song in its entirety is the album’s most heartwarming.
The Tequila King EP by Red Eye Pariah is a gorgeous -albeit little- collection of extremely well written pieces of alt and indie rock. Beautifully played and mixed, this EP is an immediate winner.
