THE FRONT ROW

Onlooker’s EP taken from the soon to be released sophomore record – succinctly titled EP2 – doesn’t break the mould, but it doesn’t try to. What it does offer is a brash, confident swing at the post-punk and garage rock canon that nods heavily to early 2000s British indie/post-punk, with flashes of scuzzy US punk and a healthy disregard for polish.

Opener Formula Tofu is a clear mission statement. The guitars are straight out of The Hives’ playbook – spiky, sharp, and snarling – while Will Rayment’s vocals channel the kind of feral energy you’d expect from a band that’s cut its teeth supporting acts like McLusky and JOHN (Timestwo). There’s no mystery here: it’s short, shouty, and keen to kick the door in.

Sit Tight follows with a more driving, Fontaines D.C.-influenced edge. The rhythm section is particularly strong here, with Kev Ridden’s bassline sitting right in the pocket. It’s the sort of track that’s likely a fan favourite live, short, loud, and easily chanted back. Again, nothing revolutionary, but tight, enjoyable and clear in its intent.

Third track Carpool changes pace ever so slightly. Clocking in at just under two minutes, it opens with a looser, Red Hot Chili Peppers-style rhythm – a momentary breather before launching into more scuzzed-out garage punk. There’s a tension in the song’s structure that hints at something deeper, even if it doesn’t fully materialise. Still, it’s a refreshing shift that stops the EP from feeling too one-note.

Disco Biscuits pushes the band into slightly more playful territory. The name alone gives the game away: this one’s rooted in that chaotic early 2000s garage/indie sound. Think The Paddingtons or early Cribs, with a bit more distortion and a lot less care for finesse. It’s messy, urgent, and stubbornly fun – even if it doesn’t quite land with the same punch as the earlier tracks.

Closer Wishing Wellaye is the most convincing moment on the EP. A lean two-minute stomper, it’s got the Frank Carter snarl down pat, laced with jagged guitars and a commanding vocal that doesn’t let up. It’s here where everything clicks: the band’s intent, influence and execution are all at their strongest.

What stands out most about EP2 is the variety tucked into such a short runtime. While the band wear their influences clearly on their sleeves, Hot Snakes, METZ, The Hives, they don’t come off as pastiche. There’s enough identity here, particularly in the vocal delivery and raw recording style, to separate Onlooker from the crowd.

It’s a solid continuation from a band who clearly know what they want to sound like, and are happy digging into that lane for now. There’s room for more dynamic range, more space to breathe, and potentially a bigger step up with the forthcoming album.

For fans of scrappy live sets, sweaty basements, and bands that sound like they could fall apart mid-song (but don’t), EP2 is worth a spin. It’s loud, it’s fast, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome – a decent snapshot of where Onlooker are right now.