Phat Krunk sounds like the name of an artist that you would expect something more in line with the electronic genres. Instead, Phat Krunk are an alt-rock four-piece hailing from Wellington. The EP starts with the upbeat track All That You Are, which vibes much like INXS in the days of Switch with new vocalist JD Fortune. A solid rock track, with very clear vocals. Undeniably the strongest song on the EP, and a solid starting track.
Following into The Freeze Up, the energy of the EP slows down in an R.E.M meets country music combination (accentuated with some slow soulful harmonica pieces). The breathy vocal style works really well with this more reserved grace in the track. Unlike most alt-rock bands that try to introduce as many unique variables into their songs, Phat Krunk display much more maturity in their song composition, making use of silence and understanding reducing the inputs can actually increase the emotional outputs from the vocals.
Third track on the album, Killers to Be, increases the pace in line with the opening track, and is reminiscent of early Matchbox Twenty. The pace of the track and rolling vocals have a natural rhythm that gets the head nodding away, and a solo with bends that sound irritatingly familiar (irritating in that I can’t figure out where I’ve heard that ben progression before; from a Jet or Airbourne song perhaps).
Closing the
EP is final track Heart On A Leash, debatably
the funkiest track on the release. Phat Krunk clearly have some great
guitarists on board, and multiple members with great voices, which is even
rarer. While there are potentially a lot of influences and comparisons that
their music could be given to other large international acts, the Whatever You Say EP is undeniably
original. It just happens to share many structures and chord progressions that
hook in the listener. There is an innate talent to recognizing the aspects that
make a song memorable, and another talent entirely incorporating it into your
own original music. Despite the unorthodox name, there’s a definite polished mainstream sound that will do
them well once they break into the mainstream airwaves.
Review written by Alex Moulton
Phat Krunk is a local Wellington band formed in the music rooms of Onslow College in 2016. Since then they have spent much time writing and playing around the Wellington music scene. In early 2017 they recorded the EP Two Heart Attacks, You and I which chronicled their journey from a funk band, to a blues band, to it's current state as an alternative rock band that incorporates the aforementioned genres.
Phat Krunks’ sound is mostly influenced by Queens of the Stone Age, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and War on Drugs.
The music is playful and sparse in the sense that each song has its own unique character, structure and sound. The lyrics strive for insightful and heartfelt narratives that are extended by the grooving riffs, pounding percussion backbones, and catchy, memorable melodies.