If you can't beat them...
Recorded in Nottin Pill studios (believe me, I know how bad that sounds) and following the "Along The Divide" E.P., Panel's third release titled "Command Street Box Scenario" may sound like an episode of Columbo but I reckon even the The Great Mac would have a hard time working out why this one made it to the presses.
"Blind Summit" sounds like the spawn of Iron Maiden and Kerbdog - melodic heavy riffs punctuated by single string harmonies and indeed vocalist Dafydd Williams possesses a voice not dissimilar to Cormac Battle's raucous timbre. It's performed a little too slow for my liking though - there's a plodding inevitability to the tune - you always know where you're going to end up and you know the route they've chosen to get you there. There's no surprises, no hook, no tangy mint sauce to cut through the stodgy lamb and gravy.
Thankfully "Like A Lamb" and "Common Interest" are leaner, meaner and faster but by no means any better - the former is spoilt by particularly overly elaborate drumming (never thought I'd ever think that of a metal track) and again both sound like rock-by-numbers - formulaic, methodical but ultimately lacking in any spirit - and to be honest I wished they'd necked a couple of bottles of the aforementioned demon brew while they were laying down the track.
The mini-album (not my description so don't attribute the blame indiscriminately) perks up considerably when "Waiting For An Excuse" hits the eardrums. While the introduction drenches the ears in feedback, it soon gives way to a solid rocker and the drumming settles down into a coherent smash. The time signature changes work well too, adding weight to the heavier power chords.
"Smile" scorches its way into more defiantly post-hardcore territory, and is followed up by companion piece "Outweighed" - a more focussed, delicate and contemplative track that demonstrates that Panel have more strings to their bow than you might have first thought. The bassline is a killer too and Dafydd Williams demonstrates that when he's not shouting and screaming his way through dirge, he's got a more than decent set of pipes.
With "Monorail", the production shifts into anaemic punk with a palpable loss of bass and depth which attempts to complement the desolate, insular lyrics but ends up maing you think that your stereo has mullered itsekf. It's swiftly embellished by "Remain Indifferent", which sweeps into town like The Man with No Name - and consequently leaves that impression in your mouth - this is purely filler and on a mini-album of only eight songs, that's one route you want to avoid. Mini-albums and E.Ps are business cards, portfolios, C.V.s and there's no room for dicking around with underwritten, half-finished tunes.
Panel have the makings of a great rock band, provided they work their material into a coherent and meaningful whole and get a heck of a producer to rein in their drummer wherever possible. They might have taken a beating in this review but they've got a good chance of knocking themselves into pretty decent shape if they put their minds to it.