Review: Portsmouth, England-based Hallan present their second EP, landing on the same label that has been good enough to grace us with Sports Team, English Teacher, and other non-high school referencing bands. If nothing else, a once-over of what's here reveals just how varied the imprint can be, with this combination of raw punk energy and 1980s dark synth not necessarily invoking the other stablemates. The Noise of a Firing Gun is certainly a package that makes itself known - so no ironic titling here, then - opening on the rapid fire of 'Unwomanly Face of War', it's impossible not to pay some serious attention. The track is so big it lifts its head above the parapet into chart-friendly territory, or at least 'radio play me' turf, and as things progress that value doesn't wane, from the weird rock & roll and whirring of 'The Colline Gate' (Death In Vegas, anyone?) to the grand finale 'Sisyphus' and that riff-refrain combination.
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