EP REVIEW: Start From Scratch – Suck, Marry, Kill
Start From Scratch may be new to the scene, but “Suck, Marry, Kill” is anything but tentative. This debut EP from the Glasgow-based four-piece doesn’t just introduce their sound—it tears through the wall and plonks itself firmly in the centre of the room. Across four tracks, the band swerves from sludgy genre-blending to glittering punk-pop with a firm grip on melody, grit, and raw honesty. It’s bold, hooky, and bursting with character.
Opening track ‘Always’ sets the tone with a deceptive sense of calm. The dreamy intro floats in like a memory half-formed, before giving way to crashing guitars and thick, rumbling energy. What follows is a masterclass in dynamic songwriting—the track dips, swells, and explodes across its runtime, with tempo changes used to dramatic effect. The vocals are rich and expressive, swooping into soaring choruses before breaking into a fast-paced, almost nu-metal moment that hits with unexpected intensity. When the screamed obscenities arrive, they don’t feel gratuitous—they feel earned. It’s a release of tension, frustration, and power all at once. There’s a sludgy undertone that keeps things grounded even in the more ethereal moments, and the result is a track that feels both chaotic and beautifully controlled.
‘(Pick on Someone) Your Own Age’ switches gears completely, trading darkness for something brighter but no less pointed. It opens with acoustic warmth and a sense of DIY charm, before building into a full indie-punk burst. The guitars are energetic, the drums bright and driving, and the vocals carry a playful, adolescent tone that suits the subject matter perfectly. Beneath the glitter and bounce, though, is a sharp lyrical undercurrent. It’s a song about power imbalances, about older men who seek control through naivety, and the frustration of watching that dynamic play out. The band handles it with nuance and bite—clever, catchy, and full of character. It’s twee, but never toothless.
‘Waiting 4 U’ keeps the momentum going with a rumbling drum intro that builds anticipation before opening up into something fizzy and vibrant. This is Start From Scratch at their most playful—bubbly guitars, sugary hooks, and vocals that flirt between cute and sharp-edged. There’s a joyful rebellion to it all, like a pop-punk daydream with its fists still clenched. The chorus is infectious, and a tempo dip mid-track adds a hazy, psychedelic swirl that gives the track an unexpected depth. It’s a song made to move to—bright, effervescent, and just messy enough to keep it interesting.
Closing track ‘Bury It’ draws everything together in a shimmering, defiant finale. The intro is sparse and hypnotic, giving space for the vocals to breathe before the guitars pulse in with urgency. There’s an arty flair to the arrangement—layered and deliberate, but still raw around the edges. Vocally, it’s one of the most powerful performances on the record: confident, expressive, and soaked in conviction. The imagery is vivid and strange—a beach picnic turned bloodstained—but the emotion is real. It feels like a release, a revenge fantasy wrapped in glitter and guitar fuzz.
What ties this EP together is its duality. Start From Scratch aren’t afraid to be cute or weird or heavy—they’re all of those things at once, and more. ‘Always’ stands apart with its bold genre collision and sludgy grandeur, while the rest of the EP leans into sparkling, rebellious punk with real emotional teeth. There’s polish, but also enough DIY energy to keep it grounded. The choruses land hard, the riffs shimmer and bite, and the vocals—playful, powerful, and packed with personality—bring the whole thing to life.
For a debut, “Suck, Marry, Kill” doesn’t just show potential—it delivers. This is the sound of a band with something to say, something to scream, and something to glitterbomb your speakers with. Watch this space.
