Five-piece rock screamers The Publics have exploded out from their Mansfield home town to make themselves known at the likes of YNOT? and Splendour. Further gigs in the books in Manchester, London and down the road in Nottingham continue to solidify their presence, unveiling the new EP I Know the World Stopped, but Why Did You? as their most ambitious project to date.
Expertly splitting the balance between indie energisers and heavy alt-rock fire, The Publics channel every ounce of bold intent with fan favourites and newcomers making up the tracklist. After sprinkling disorder with the intro track ‘Emergency Broadcast Service’, the band dives into ‘Red Flag Verified’, setting the tone for the ferocious storytelling that follows.
Telling what the band deem small-town stories, they bring a sense of relatability, each character easily transferred to someone in your own life. The charge continues on into ‘Gaslighter’ and ‘D.B. Cooper’, upping the energy and filling the speakers with a sound stripped straight from the stage. The guitar tones are heavily distorted, but the lead vocal keeps a brightness, unclouded by the darkness and keeps a level head throughout the wildness of riffs and punchy drums.
The title track pulls back for a moment, creating an atmospheric whirlwind before returning to the indie rock illumination. Their anthemic nature is brought into a different realm with a true singalong. ‘Murphy’s Law’ is the last to make an appearance, an emotive finale that sums up the two sides to The Publics coin, thoughtful, real-life narratives and the biggest roar the band can muster.
The band explain in their own words, “Most of our songs are written as character studies based on either people we’ve met or from stories that our friends have shared about people they know. ‘Relatability’ is a huge factor in people connecting with a song and we don’t feel as though we’ve lived very ‘relatable’ lives. By telling others’ stories our songs’ cover a range of topics, It also means that when we do write personal songs, such as I Know the World Stopped, but Why Did You? and Murphy’s Law, they tend to have that extra kick to them!”
‘I Know the World Stopped, but Why Did You?’ is out now…
