A lot can be said about Scotland’s thriving indie scene. As the burgeoning genre seems to go from strength to strength all across the world, despite heading for middle-age, more and more Scots are picking up a guitar and thrashing out a tune.
Fuelled by plenty of inspiration and talent comes the debut EP Chiefs from four piece outfit Made As Mannequins. Hailing from across the country, these young guns are brimming with confidence, something that can’t be bought.
Ambition is half the battle when it comes to starting a band. And in order to succeed there has to be plenty of it. While the indie scene is fit to burst with hopefuls of being the next big thing, having the right drive can be the difference between success and failure.
This EP has the hallmarks of a group who are aiming straight for the top. Loud, bright, full of energy, Chiefs is an accomplished calling card for a band who are still in their infancy.
And like all good calling cards, there has to be a standout feature that can make you sit up and take note. For Made as Mannequins, that could very well be ‘Am I Alive?’
Deliciously morbid and bleak in its title, the song offers a fantastic showcase of the band’s diversity and range. Blending thrashing drums and lick heavy guitars with more subtle finger plucking and softer notes, the track, which closes the EP, is a big stage number with festival written all over it. A tale of heartbreak done up for the uber-positive generation, Made As Mannequins know their audience and have gone for the jugular.
Perhaps there’s something in Scotland’s water that makes it a venerable breeding ground for indie talent. With ashen grey skies and wind swept coasts, there’s certainly a landscape for the darker side of growing up. Made As Mannequins may be coming to the table late but that’s no reason to pass them over. Fun, fierce and at times touching, Chiefs is a great introduction to a group on the up.