Catching A Killer comes on fast and tough. As soon as you press play, Red Ink take control, and this confidence plays out for the whole EP.

And there’s no wonder this vibe comes through the music. The song comes from Red Ink’s experiences of street violence in Melbourne, and while this has caused some controversy, it also deserves to cause some critical acclaim. To be so connected with their scene that they can recreate it in the feel of their music is genius.

The band’s debut EP has a true contemporary Melbourne sound. This isn’t defined by the genre or style of Red Ink’s music, but rather by how fresh and forward it sounds. While recognising its 80s influences, there is no way you could mistake this album for being anything other than 2010.

So how does it sound? Well I can’t help but draw comparisons to Aussie rock/new wave bands from the late 70s and 80s, such as INXS, and you can hear some British influences in there too.

The guitars are sharp and crisp throughout. Big snappy bass lines make the tracks bounce and with the drums provide an incredibly catchy vibe to the music. The big vocal choruses leave fans with something to sing, and although it took a few days to get stuck in my head, those big choruses are now firmly planted there.

The standout parts of the EP include the aforementioned confidence of the first track – it just hits so hard. The verse vocal lines on "Battlescars" are totally off the wall and engaging. I also love the guitar solo/bridge towards the end of "Antidote", with its perfectly layered sounds over a great running rhythm track.
The inclusion of a remix is also cool, and no doubt keeps a whole range of punters engaged and gives DJs and clubs something to work with. But it does cloud the point of the EP – to really showcase the band and what they are good at, and the remix isn’t as good as the song "Audrey" itself. It may be a little too indulgent to include it on the EP, although I reckon its reception will generally be more positive than negative.

With the Catching a Killer EP, Red Ink have well and truly arrived on the scene, both nationally and internationally. Confidence defines Red Ink’s sound, and I expect the band to run with that all the way to the top.

Review Score: 8/10