The Collars - The Collars

The Collars

The Collars
​self-released; 2017

3.6 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Peter Sanderson (keyboards/vocals), Nathan Byrnes  (drums), Jarrin Borg (bass) and Nathan Barraclough (vocals/guitar) are The Collars. The band formed in early 2016 and released a four-song self-titled The Collars EP about a year later.

​The Collars is a high energy rock band. The songs are often exuberant and bursting with a lot of energy. On their Bandcamp page they say they are an alternative, experimental band but to my ears they fall more into the alternative department.

They open with “In-faux-cation” which begins with heavy toms and a distorted bass line. Right off the bat you can hear the energy building up getting ready to explode. When the guitars are introduced they are bright and soaked with reverb which makes for a worthy juxtaposition. Overall, I thought it was a solid opener which gets your adrenaline pumping.

“The Clown and the Bride” is a little more atmospheric and reflective when it begins. The drums come in and for a second I thought the energy was going to be rather mellow. I was wrong as the intensity builds and the barrage of instrumentation comes at you before the song reaches the one-minute-mark.

The band has more success on “The Case of Miss Fields” which was a highlight. I really enjoyed the bass line and thought the chorus was memorable. Barraclough gives an explosive vocal performance. They close with “Aches and Panes” which solidifies the sound of that band.

I thought this band was technically talented. The drummer goes nuts on the tom drums and I appreciated the guitarist and bassist as well. The one thing I’d like to hear a little improvement on next time around is the production. It’s certainly not bad but I felt a couple things could be improved. 

​Overall, this is a solid introduction to the band. Recommended.

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