EP Review: Punching Darts & Breaking Hearts

The Bravo Uniform Mikes AKA The B.U.Ms are a two-piece unit of fiery, stomping rock based in Wellington. Nick Potts handles guitar and vocals, with Tomas Fuller laying the foundations on drums. After forming in 2022, they started gigging that same year, beginning the path that would see them earning a reputation as one of the hardest-working bands around, willing to play anytime, anywhere that the gods of rock & roll might send them.

Punching Darts & Breaking Hearts is their new three track EP, having been recorded earlier this year. Tomas only joined up with Nick around November last year, replacing the previous drummer, but they’ve clearly worked hard to sound as in tune with one another as they do on the EP.

The first track is Muthafucka, which perfectly sets the tone of the EP, just with its title. A punch in the face of a song, slamming drums with a raucous guitar line being thrashed to within an inch of its life, the brash vocals letting the muthafucka in question know exactly what’s coming… that muthafucka is going to pay.

Tequila and Cocaine is a handy guide to what happens if you combine those two particular substances, and it sounds like it may very well have been fueled by such. Slightly over three minutes of party-hearty rambunctiousness. I find it difficult to not physically react in some way to final track The Boogie Song, be it nodding, tapping, or occasionally jumping around the room cutting a few shapes, much to the horror of my cats. This cheeky little number will have you shaking your money maker, you mark my words.

These guys have followed proudly in the footsteps of other kick arse duos like The White Stripes and The Black Keys, and by all accounts deliver a high-octane live show, to boot. I often found myself thinking of Iggy and The Stooges whilst listening, too. Look out, The B.U.Ms are coming to steal your hearts with their nicotine-stained fingers.