The Heavy – How You Like Me Now? EP

Slinking Soulful Grooves

The Heavy take a good thing and make it even better with their newest release, the EP How You Like Me Now?. Based around the hit single from 2009’s The House That Dirt Built, the EP is a burst of soul-infused rock dynamism.

With a little help from the Dap-Kings Horns, whom the band toured with earlier this year, the new recording of “How You Like Me Now?” has a tighter groove than the original track. The addition of melodic funky brass creates another layer of rich texture, building on a slinking bass and singer Kevin Swaby’s wonderfully gritty vocal style, morphing between sensual whispers and bluesy belting.

How You Like Me Now? includes two live recordings from that tour with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. “That Kind of Man” shows off Swaby’s slinky smooth falsetto over fuzzy guitars and subdued horns. “Coleen” winds through a sultry soundscape of grooving soul vocals and the Dap-Kings’ lavish textures.

The EP also brings light to two tracks cast off from The House That Dirt Built. “Big Bad Wolf” is a spare rock jam, at once restrained and brimming with energy. It’s raw and rough, punctuated by Swaby’s gritty wolf howls. “Strong Enough” is also raw, its churning distorted guitars and stomping percussion showing off the band’s rock roots.

How You Like Me Now? leaves you anticipating what The Heavy will come up with next, after their collaboration with the Dap-Kings. This is a brilliantly grooving teaser that will keep you dancing late into the night.