Album review: Man Band – Strong Man

The last time we heard from Chainy Rabbit and Daniel Sargent, their former band OHHMS were bidding farewell from the stage at Damnation 2023. Now, having recruited three other Kent gents, they have formed a new group of chaps waggishly named Man Band.

The six songs that comprise debut release Strong Man play on the different definitions of its title. OHHMS were often keen on the art of the theme, from animal rights on 2018’s Exist to horror movies on their swan song Rot. Here, Chainy and Daniel continue in a similar vein with a collection of tunes that reckon with modern and traditional masculinity. That there is a little more humour involved than in their previous outfit is evident in the presence of a song called My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad.

Similarly, while Daniel’s way with a sludgy riff provides continuity with OHHMS’ alt.doom sounds, Man Band operate within a nimbler stylistic range. Dane Valley shares an irreverent tone with their Kent countyfolk SOFT PLAY, while the garage-grunge of My Dad… lands somewhere between Bleach-era Nirvana and the QOTSA tunes where Nick Oliveri took the mic. From a prog-funk bassline on The Nutter to Captain Sensible’s introspective rap metal, Strong Man’s variety is undeniable, even if the results can be uneven.

Always compelling onstage with OHHMS, Chainy has now moved from bassist to frontman. His manic vocal presence here ties things together and ensures that, for all the shifting sonic accents, Man Band maintain a consistent character. Certainly, tunes as virile as Men Don’t Cry and Ian’s Song suggest that these lads are only just getting started. Nice one, geezers!

Verdict: 3/5

For fans of: SOFT PLAY, IDLES, Hawk Eyes

Strong Man is released on April 17 via Faith Healer.