Album Review: Ebola Babies

I was really looking forward to this album. I love punk and with a name like EbolaBabies, it was pretty clear that this set of songs should be right up my street. In fact, the band has termed their music “scrap metal”. I like their attitude, if you are going to be pigeon-holed by other people why not get in there first and do it yourself.

Ok, so let’s get into the music. The album starts with a tongue in cheek version of the NZ National Anthem complete with sheep noises. It made me smile and it is short enough not to get too annoying. Reminds me of something that Deja Voodoo would come up with and there are other tracks on this album in a similar vein.

The first thing that stands out is Jason White’s vocals. This man really does sound like he has rocks rattling around in the back of his throat. Songs like Caravan Lovers and Gimp Man (yep sense of humour still intact) are reminiscent of bands like UK Subs or some of the Oi’ bands of the early eighties.

This music isn’t pretty or clever and with lyrics like “I have seen some funny shit, some fucking weird shit, ping pong balls and shit” (Gimp Man) it’s clear that Ebola Babies aren’t aiming for the politically motivated, activist punk crowd.

By this point I was hoping for a bit more energy and Red Light District picks up the pace with a clever use of samples and backing vocals, it is the stand out track for me. The rest of the album is much of the same really.

These guys have a formula and they seem to be sticking to it. Ebola Babies don’t kick, spit and scream they chug along doing their own thing and that’s ultimately what didn’t work for me. I wanted a bit more buzz, a bit of the energy that was hinted at in Red Light District. A bit of variation. Music needs to make you feel something – I want to love it or hate it and in the end, I wasn’t doing either.

Great attitude, great name, stand out voice and looking at the live footage from recent gigs, I think that is where you should check out these songs. Go and see them live.