As a teenager, most of us considered trying our hand at being a band. For some - who would prefer to remain nameless - it involves cramming friends into your bedroom to attempt an all-female version of anything from Metallica to The Smiths in hope to find something that worked; nothing came of it, other than a lot of high pitched Hetfield 'Yeah's and something to cringe about in years to come.
But not all teenagers are quite so clueless when it comes to bands, as proven by Steak Number Eight. A few years ago, with the band at an average age of 15, they won Belgium's Humo's Rock Rally - I'd assume some of the youngest to ever do so. There and then, their quality is confirmed - at an age where many of us plink and plonk on instruments to try tackle a cover, they're out in the world making a path for themselves.
And until very recently, that path hadn't crossed mine, so I dug a little into the past to find a wealth of enjoyable music. With Eurovision spirit high in the air, it's good to be reminded that Europe actually does have some quality nestled in its midst. From the opening sludge of the lengthy 'Cryogenius', the band flaunt their knack for holding back when need be to create something more powerful. This is immediately remedied in the following onslaught 'Black Eyed', teaming shredding riffs with Vanneste's tight screams.
It feels all doom and gloom, but the kind of doom and gloom you welcome in music if it can be pulled off. This isn't a whiney, apathetic dialogue - this is brooding, atmospheric layers coming together to create something huge. Amidst this darkness, 'Push Pull' almost seems cheery with occasional notes of optimism plucked.
'Pilgrimage' has some fine guitar work to sink your teeth into - sleek and controlled, it feels like the track's about to pick up the pace at any moment, but they keep the swing held on the precipice of dropping. 'The Shrine' seems a little different in standard, cramming more ideas into one song and it doesn't hold quite the same power as those dedicated to bigger sounds.
It's difficult to fault 'The Hutch' across the board, because this holds some pretty spectacular things. This band is tight musically and the production is hard to find flaw with - clean cut, huge sounds. With Matt Bayles on hand, the similarities to the likes of Isis and Mastodon are made all that stronger. And yet, at no point do you hear anything and feel it's a carbon copy or an intentional repeat of something they'd heard - they mesh their influences well so there appears to be a hat tip, but it's very much their own.
'The Hutch' is a declaration: this band are beyond just aiming for solid tracks, they want to push themselves past what they've done. The drawn out trudge isn't new and there can be a bit of a formula to the track's set up, but they've taken their music somewhere else. Listen now and listen loud, because this band are going nowhere but up.
'The Hutch' is out now on Indie Recordings.
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But not all teenagers are quite so clueless when it comes to bands, as proven by Steak Number Eight. A few years ago, with the band at an average age of 15, they won Belgium's Humo's Rock Rally - I'd assume some of the youngest to ever do so. There and then, their quality is confirmed - at an age where many of us plink and plonk on instruments to try tackle a cover, they're out in the world making a path for themselves. 
