Echo Scale™: 4.4/5 ★★★★☆
Fresh from the glowing praise we gave their single One Bad Move earlier this year, Guns For Girls return with Guilty Pleasures an EP that packages their grunge-tinged, alt-rock swagger into four tight, attitude-soaked tracks. This is a band who, since reinventing themselves as a three-piece in 2020, have been steadily refining their sound into something big, bold, and unapologetically festival-ready.
Where One Bad Move proved they could hit hard and clean in a single shot, Guilty Pleasures shows they can keep that energy burning across a multi-track run without losing focus. It’s not a flawless victory there are moments where hooks loosen their grip but overall, it’s a confident and versatile release that cements their position as a band who know exactly what they’re doing.
One Bad Move
The EP bursts to life with the familiar fast-paced drum intro of One Bad Move. It’s nothing flashy, but it’s tight as a snarehead and sets the pace perfectly. Around the 20-second mark, the guitars kick in with crisp licks, matched by bass that rumbles under the mix like a restless engine. Vocals come in with a hair-metal swagger that instantly lifts the track’s attitude, while smart use of backing vocals beefs up the chorus into a full-on singalong moment.
Sam called this track “a masterclass in modern rock cohesion” when we first covered it, and it still holds up. Sleek production polish, gritty rock heart, and pacing that refuses to drop this is the statement opener Guilty Pleasures needed.
Deep
Deep opens with precision: a tight groove and warm tom tone that immediately hits the sweet spot. Chunky guitars give it some heft, and the vocal delivery fits snugly with the mood, adding texture without stealing the spotlight. The production keeps everything clear, letting the rhythm section breathe.
Still, while the performance is tight and the tonal palette rich, the track does suffer from being a little long-winded. Without a killer hook to pull you back in, it lands more as a well-played supporting act than a showstopper. Solid, but unlikely to dethrone the opener in anyone’s playlist.
Bruises
With Bruises, the band pivots into a grungier lane. A simple but effective drum intro sets things rolling before thick, textured guitars push the sound into darker territory. Vocals remain a strong suit here, delivering just the right amount of grit to complement the heavier vibe.
The rhythm section keeps locked in, the drums and bass working together to form a rock-solid backbone. Around the three-minute mark, there’s a welcome breakdown that lets the drums stretch out a little nothing showy, just smart, supportive playing. A short guitar solo follows, understated but perfectly placed, proving once again that Guns For Girls understand when less really is more.
Sodium
Sodium opens with distant, moody guitar before swelling into a satisfying drum build-up that takes its time. There’s a sultry, almost sleazy undertone to the pace here, giving the track its own distinct personality. At 45 seconds, it drops right back to sparse guitar licks and a fat, juicy bassline that instantly steals focus.
From there, the song alternates between crunch-heavy builds and stripped-back spaces, using dynamics to keep things interesting. The repeated line “Don’t let the bastards win!” is delivered like a pub chant waiting to happen blunt, defiant, and instantly memorable. Meanwhile, the drums throw in enough subtle shifts to keep even the most rhythm-obsessed listeners satisfied.
Echo Rebel’s Verdict
Guilty Pleasures is exactly the sort of EP you want from a band in Guns For Girls’ position confident enough to show range, focused enough to avoid filler. It’s a set that knows how to work a crowd without falling into the trap of trying to be all things to all people.
The high points (One Bad Move, Sodium, Bruises) prove that the trio’s tight musicianship and knack for dynamics can deliver big, replayable moments. Even when things sag slightly (Deep), the execution is so clean it’s still enjoyable.
If their next move is a full-length album, Guilty Pleasures suggests they’re more than ready to scale up. For now, this is a lean, swaggering release that’s got enough bite to keep us listening and more than enough attitude to keep the bastards from winning.
