BUGS - EP

BUGS

​EP
self-released; 2015

3.4 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

BUGS is a three-piece band comprised of Mark Kourcklas (guitar/vocals), Kyle Rogers (guitar/ vocals), Cam Gainer (bass) and Dennis Smith (drums) from Cleveland, Ohio that blends pop/punk into their music. That being said the band doesn’t fit into pop punk genre as you might suspect. Kourcklas doesn’t have the typical nasally voice associated with the pop punk and the guitar solos also have a different flair that deviate from typical pop punk songs. In fact the music had tinges of 90’s alternative rock, which the band fails to mention in their bio.

The band released a short three-song EP, which basically gives you a little taste of what the band is capable of. EP starts with “Hook Line & Sinker” which is fast, hard-hitting song, which revolves around distorted power chords and dynamic singing. The song unleashes an energy and never quits till it's over. I was impressed by how much the band was able to fit in during the two minutes. 

Next up is “From Mars” which is more dynamic and versatile than the first track. The guitar work goes from off-kilter picking to fully fleshed out waves of white noise. I was reminded of Weezer at points during this track. This track is almost four minutes long and packs in just as much as the first track. Take for instance the build around the 1:20 mark or the cool sounding lead work around the 3:00 mark, which I think was guitar feedback.

The band closes with “Sayonara (So Long)” which is a high-energy song that features an aggressive vocal performance and fantastic drumming. The band is on point and unequivocally rocks the hell out of this track. 

BUGS isn’t reinventing the wheel by any stretch but they have created a loose foundation with this appetizer of an EP. The band certainly has the skill and chops but I hope to see them really come into their own with a full length. The band falls into a category of wait and see but things are looking good.

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