The long and the short of it is that Bayonets were a promising young band with an EP and an album behind them and then in June called it a day. They played two final shows, announced they would be releasing their second album and then that’s it. Dead. True to their word, this self-titled album has hit the streets a few months after the coffin lid shut down on the band for the final time. And if you’ve grown to enjoy the band and watched them grow, this record will be a fine parting gift to the world.
Bayonets started off as a band that seemed to play the music they liked. They grew into an intelligent band that forged their own sound. For me they’ve died as a band that listened to ‘Devil and God’ by Brand New a little too much. ‘Cash In Kids/Kids Cash In’ sounds identical to the output Brand New have recently recorded and there are little elements throughout this album that suggest the band wear their influences a little too heavily on their sleeves. That doesn’t make them a bad band nor does it make this album a poor listen. It just gives it an air of familiarity. ‘God Can’t Grow’ is a real brooding monster of a song, but then it’s followed by ‘1996’ which just sounds like a few other bands. Ditto ‘Thirty Eight’.
I think it’s the vocal delivery that does it for me, it’s just a little rougher than Jesse Lacey, a little jagged around the edges, but there’s a drawn out quality to some of the notes and an effect on the harmonies that gives the band a sound that’s a bit too comparable to BN. It means those who love latter day Brand New will love this just as much as they love ‘Daisy’ – but for me it takes the shine slightly off a band that were beginning to forge their own sound. Don’t get me wrong, this is a quality release from a band that didn’t quite reach the heights they deserved. But I think their influences shine through a little too much this time round. Still, a fitting send off for a very, very talented band and worth a purchase for the stellar ‘Colour vs Black and White’ alone.