ALBUM REVIEW: Bust To Bits – The Covids

March 9, 2023, Katie Bird

When your band is born out of boredom during a global pandemic, it makes sense to name yourself after said pandemic, right? That’s what Amsterdam’s THE COVIDS did. Formed during the first lockdown, they only managed to play their first live show in autumn 2021. Thankfully, it has been all systems go from there, as they’ve played various Dutch clubs, as well as some shows in the UK and Germany. After releasing their first EP in 2021, the band are ready to unleash their debut album Bust To Bits.

Epitome starts off the album with a gentle guitar solo before exploding with energy. It is a frantic and urgent song that makes the most of its two-minute runtime – a great opener that would work extremely well in a live setting. The title track follows and builds upon this with a spoken word bridge, showcasing more of the uniqueness of the band’s sound.

Night Tight is a groovy rock song that does not sound rushed, despite the short runtime of just under two minutes. In fact, this is a feat that should not go unnoticed. Shorter songs can sometimes be a bit gimmicky, or – even worse – thoughtless, but thankfully this is not an issue with THE COVIDS. They have made excellent use of their song’s short runtimes, proving that they believe in quality over quantity. Get Up makes excellent use of gang vocals, and Spice gives the guitars the love they deserve. Whilst the album is brilliant, it is not perfect by any means. Sometimes the guitars get lost in the mix, so it’s great to have a track like this to showcase the guitarists’ talents.

Jenny’s Side showcases the band’s punk side, which continues with Light A Match (Farmboy) and Gone. These tracks reveal new sides to the band that could’ve easily become confusing if left in the hands of any other producer, but here the production on the album helps emphasise the fast pace. Whilst some might view the album as rushed, the truth is actually more nuanced than that. The band have managed to make each song sound contained, whilst also being a part of a larger whole. Take the closing track as an example. Titled Drink ‘n Thrive, it is the longest song on the album, with a runtime of four and a half minutes. Whilst the first minute and a half is taken up by a guitar solo, the rest of the song is a mid-tempo rock song. It doesn’t slow down the pacing at all; in fact, it just means that the album has come to a place of rest after a fast-paced journey.

In conclusion, whilst not perfect, Bust To Bits is a fantastic and fun debut album. Despite some slightly muddled guitar work earlier on in the album, THE COVIDS showcase a fun and energetic album that makes for an impressive first full-length. Debut albums are notoriously hard to release because they most often define a band’s sound that people will constantly refer to once you’ve made waves in the industry. Thankfully, THE COVIDS have created an easily accessible sound that can be expanded upon in future releases. For now, this is a stunning debut that showcases an exciting new band.

Rating: 8/10

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