Review Summary: One word: Slaps
Sometimes the best things in life are short and sweet. Johnny Booth’s most recent release,
Storyteller, falls squarely into that category.
There isn’t a whole lot to be said here other than if you want twelve-plus minutes of feeling what it’s like to be punched in the face while riding a very fast roller-coaster (and liking it), look no further. Between breakneck speed, chaotically shifting riffs and patterns, adrenaline fueling breakdowns, and the occasional moment of breathing room, Johnny Booth deliver an incredibly fun and musically sound EP.
For the most part this EP ticks off all of the check boxes of what I'm looking for in a wild hardcore romp. The push and pull between the rapidly shifting melodies, riffs and breakdowns is controlled chaos at some of its finest, all of it being supplemented by excellent drum and bass work. The vocal work hits the sweet spot between raw and "this guy's gonna need surgery on his vocal cords soon." Each of the first three songs has their own unique feel and each one emphasizes a slightly different genre while maintaining a cohesive unity. (Special mention to "Deepfake" as being a particular highlight.)
The only complaint to be made is the closing track which, while not bad per se, is too stylistically different to really belong on this EP and the contrast grates a bit much. That complaint, however, is relatively minor compared to the overall enjoyableness of this little collection of songs.
I don’t always get excited about EPs, but I don't normally get to listen to EPs that are this good. Buckle up gents, this roller-coaster ride may be short, but it
slaps.
