Having a release out that is as short as three tracks either says that you are pushed for funds to get everything accomplished in the studio, or that you just don’t have enough material yet to justify a full length. Whatever applies to London based alt-rock four-piece Thulium, their release 69 was out back in June to the digital download masses. I won’t go into too much about how much this roughly cost to record/produce/master/distribute etc, but the accompanying email spouted a staggering amount to me, and for only about 12 minutes of music.

To be frank, despite the attempts to harness the power of the punk tinged (‘Running’) rock ballad (‘Craving’), all three tracks fail to say anything to me that would actually make want to investigate the band further. Melodically sound, but the tracks fail to ignite any sense of exploration into the music that they create. Instead, it covers the well trodden paths of the hideous Nicklebacks and Creeds from a time best forgotten.

At least Thulium didn’t bulk up the release by getting another 3 tracks bolted on the end consisting of “edgy” remixes of a single song (‘90 days of Sorrow’ would suit this down to the ground) by no-name producers who merely put an industrial Crystal Method-style breakbeat and some awfully thought-out synth parts, which was symptom of the late-90s early 00’s, where in fact this release would fit in just fine. And that is a bad thing.