Wetlands deliver all the spit and bile with grungy, cathartic debut self-titled EP

Bursting on to the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane alt music scene at the end of 2019, Wetlands have been threatening to deliver, and after a few ripper singles, the alt/grunge four-piece have released their debut self-titled EP.

Channelling all the raw emotion and angst straight from the 90s, and blending songwriter stylings with a fiery guitar attack, Wetlands lean in hard on the nu-grunge sound with unforced vocals and uncompressed storytelling.

Influences such as Courtney Barnett, Camp Cope and Nirvana shine through, but there’s definitely shades of early Hole and on a more local front, Clouds appearing in the musical formula for the self-proclaimed underdogs.

Vocalist/guitarist Kaityln Hold doesn’t hold back (pun intended) with the vitriol, particularly in tracks like ‘Oxytocin’, ‘M.T.F.N.B’ and ‘Stain’, and with no extra frills, bells or whistles, the EP relies purely on Wetlands’ standard music armoury.

Covering themes from ‘hating yourself’ (in pure sarcastic form), to heavier tones of toxic relationships and self-destructive coping mechanisms. In words of the band, the songs are a cathartic release that navigate touchy subjects with confidence, making it clear there is no shame in speaking up about one’s try feelings.

Fuzz bass and pounding drums intertwine with contrasting guitar tones, which balance between chiming unaffected strums to flat out sonic screeching, tube screaming face melting tones.

If you liked the previous singles, ‘Oxytocin’ and ‘Convoluted’, then you need to sink your teeth in to Wetlands’ debut EP, out now on all streaming platforms.