From Keighley, West Yorkshire, Minnis have stepped out swinging with their debut EP Atone four tracks of raw alt‑rock graft that thrive on imperfection and emotional honesty. Recorded, mixed, and mastered entirely by the band in their own hometown studio, this is DIY spirit through and through.
The EP kicks off with Crooked Man, opening on a dirty bass riff before the whole band crashes in. Lyrically, it conjures up the image of a scary crooked figure the chorus hammering home “Crooked man, oh he’s the crooked man, I’m in the palm of his hand.” It’s gnarly, riff‑driven, and capped off with a proper snarling solo. Released on Halloween with a horror‑movie‑styled video, it’s already cemented itself as a standout.
Survival of the Sickest follows in a similar vein – heavy riffs, a catchy chorus, and reverb‑soaked vocals that give the verses a haunted edge. Also dropped on Halloween with its own twisted visuals, it’s urgent, gritty, and tailor‑made for the underground.
Shh shifts the mood, leaning into a more indie‑punk crossover. The verses are calm, almost restrained, before the choruses kick in with heavier energy. Thematically, it’s about anxiety and the struggle of large crowds, pulling influence from the gentler side of Idles while still keeping a punk bite. It’s a track that shows Minnis can stretch their sound without losing their raw edge.
Closing the record, Atone is the band’s most confessional cut. Influenced by the garage rock grit of The White Stripes, it’s built on a stripped‑back riff and straight‑from‑the‑gut vocals. The chorus is instantly memorable: “And that’s why I try to atone, for all my sins, for all the things I’ve done to hurt you, I hurt you so bad.” The track finishes with a beautiful acapella chorus vocal and another sharp solo, leaving the listener with both catharsis and sting. A new video filmed locally in the woods is on the way, promising to bring that raw honesty to life visually.
What makes Atone matter isn’t just the songs, but the ethos. Minnis are proudly Yorkshire, proudly imperfect, and proudly loud. Their music confronts guilt, anger, and redemption head‑on, and it does so with a cathartic honesty that feels lived‑in rather than polished.
With Atone, Minnis plant their flag firmly in the UK underground. It’s a debut that doesn’t just introduce a band – it introduces a conviction. Loud enough to shake the walls, raw enough to cut through the noise, and honest enough to stick.
Listen to the full EP by clicking here
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