Bristol’s Scare Bears are one of those bands that steal your heart the moment you hear them — your punk heart, of course. Their blend of social commentary, sharp lyrics and a uniquely biting sense of humour sets them apart on the current scene. Following the releases of ‘Scapegoat’ and ‘Softboy Disco’, they return with a new offering in the form of an EP: Worse for Everyone. Here, they tackle the rise of the far right, misogyny (whether disguised or not), and isolation. Things that matter to them. Things that matter to all of us.
The EP opens with ‘Scapegoat’, a scathing attack on the rise of the far right and its false rhetoric around “protecting women and girls”, when, personally, I’d rather be protected from those very same fascist groups. The song begins with a brief spoken-word section, which gives way to a post-punk energy reminiscent of Gang of Four, before building into a punk explosion driven by the chant, “We are not in justice land.” The vocals are particularly striking: Abi takes the lead in a spoken-word style, backed by Kim and Meg, who weave a ferocious presence over dense, propulsive guitars.
‘Not Just Eggos’ is the most hardcore and most personal track on the EP. Kim takes to the mic to recount her experience of growing up under constant health-related restrictions, where a lack of freedom was offset by superficial gestures. The restrained verses give way to explosive choruses, where something more physical, almost animalistic, breaks through. In its dynamic shifts, it recalls Scowl: moments of near restraint, even melody, before everything comes undone.
With biting irony and an addictive rhythm, ‘Fuckboy Disco’ (released as ‘Softboy Disco’) lays bare the hypocrisy of performative feminism, as danceable as it is uncomfortable, and a bloody pain in the arse.
The EP closes with its title track, which proves to be the most surprising. Its minimalist lyrics, bordering on mantra, explore the tension between collective unease and the possibility of finding joy in spite of it, without offering a clear resolution or a call to direct action. Sometimes, acknowledging that things won’t get better on their own is the most honest response, and sometimes you just have to scream it. ‘Worse for Everyone’ inhabits a space close to the alt-rock of Sonic Youth, with hypnotic guitars that build a slow-burning tension before culminating in a cathartic crescendo. Protest and ferocity are not incompatible with sensitivity.
Scare Bears draw clearly from punk’s roots, and this is an EP the likes of Alice Bag would love. The energy they exude is physical, palpable. You’ve been warned.
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