When I saw LOMENS for the first time — no less than at their EP launch show at Leeds’ The Key Club — I picked up on the prudence and significance of their new tunes’ collective title. “I can’t be this late to the party, only hearing it now? I can’t have let such a sick band pass my ears by?”.

*Internal response*: “Surely not?”. And then it dawned on me — the EP, and its intriguing name, immediately resonated. 

Whether a clever link between my musical tardiness and their stellar output could really be made, they absolutely tore that venue a new one and did themselves proud. LOMENS’ curated line-up of Vazon as openers and Wolforna as lead support also had everyone begging for another occasion when the same bands could hit the diary together soon. Banger after banger. Even their older tracks still rocked amid the prestige and craftsmanship of the newer six.

Now, here I am, in the comfort of my own home with earphones in to enjoy the EP as studio recordings. The band’s sound is unique, crisp and polished; something you’d expect from an outfit with a timeline that far predates the 2024 on their CV. 

A little bit Muse-esque, a lot akin to Nothing But Thieves, the harmonised vocals first draw you in. They immerse you instantly; something I found during their gig, too. But you’re soon treated to blistering bass and backing sounds, expertly shredded guitar (with some scorching solos to boot) and unrelenting drums that push the boundaries of kicks, snares and cymbals. 

The vibey, zorbing intro to ‘Messroom’ first demonstrates that these guys are fans of textures and layers. Before long, impeccably high-pitched lyrics set the tone for a track that exhibits sonic reach and breadth, and palpable, raw emotion. In just four minutes, you’re escorted on a ride of pacy turns that start slowly, then the funky ‘Dregs & Daggers’ shifts that tempo again. Rolling and tinkling, the drums steal my interest, then those roared vocals return, punctuated by ethereal wails. It’s here that you can really stack up those Conor Mason parallels. 

LOMENS definitely do juxtapositions; ‘It Feels Personal’ is much heavier than the first two. Vocally similar, but rougher, readier and way more metal in style. A well-suited shake-up partway through the EP. And that solo? I warned you of the heat! 

‘2232’ breaks the mould again. It’s soft, slow and acoustic, with laid-bare lyrics and gentle string strums until about 20 closing seconds of jaunty synths. They take over the airwaves and bleed into ‘Alveoli’, a transition-type piece that erupts over the course of two songs (this and the mightier ‘Alveolar’), then into a transcendent, anthemic finale. Token percussive work, alongside the instrumentals, builds this into a serious belter. It tees up ‘Alveolar’ expertly. And, thanks to this pairing, the show format turned into something of a bigger performance, rather than just a standard gig, last Friday.

Rupturing, rapturous, unholy fierceness is peppered throughout the entire EP. “Surely not?”. No, you can’t use the title as a response to that statement, because this is a whopper of an alt-rock record from LOMENS. 

If you only download one track, let it be: ‘Messroom’