Roman Nose

At the 2014 Wickerman Festival with the Go North tent filled to capacity for Saturday night’s headline slot, there was a panic amongst those responsible for event security as the reputation of the masked trio due onstage met a crowd growing boisterous in anticipation. Steward numbers were increased, photographers in the pit were warned not to engage with anyone lest they start a riot and then the lights went out. What happened next was unforgettable and widely regarded as the highlight of the weekend.

Since that evening Roman Nose have lost none of their visceral energy. Atonal hooks squirm over brutal bass and drums precision-tooled at just the right BPM to have you dancing like a loon. ‘Jacked Up On Mercy’ is the band’s third EP and picks up where previous releases ‘Youthclubbed’ and ‘Long Live Our Friend the Revolver’ (both 2013) left off. It’s dark, imaginative and utterly exhilarating. Buy it and then make damn sure you catch them playing it live.