Album reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Hairy Penguins – Triptych (2021)

A lot of people feel like the world is pulling them down and there is nothing they can do about it. Well, Hairy Penguins are here to help you with a morale boost and some positive vibes in their EP Triptych. Through the three tracks of the EP, they touch on topics including mental health, mindsets and their effects, doubt and self-appreciation.

The EP is a new beginning for the band and offers a strengthening of their sound. During the last year, Kevin De Souza, the man behind the penguins, made a few demos with Tristan Renet offering an external ear. While there were 15 songs in all, the band decided to break them down into smaller EP’s with Triptych being the first.



The EP opens with ‘Drop the Anchor’ which draws you in with these light bell chimes. The guitar that soars up from the depths of the soundscape pulls you up while the drums keep you somewhat grounded. The music is wonderful as you are drawn further into the track. When the vocals hit, you have already been filled with a sense of the emotions of the song through the music. There is a cracking feeling to the vocals like they are straining under the pressure of everything. This adds a poignancy to the lyrics which are filled with a call for strength and to fight on.

‘Bonfire’ hits the ground running with a guitar line that shivers through your veins and gets your heart pumping. The drums stomp against your senses and make you want to pound away with them. The vocals have a very different vibe on this track as they offer an understanding of negative mindsets and the darkness this brings. The layered vocal approach creates an interesting tension and pressure that piles up on you. While there is a sense of negativity within this track, there is light and positivity woven into it. This has been delicately handled with the positive vibes coming through the darkness without you really realising it.

The EP comes to a close with ‘Fragile Balance’ which gets you pumped from the first moment. The combination of guitars and drums makes you want to jump around while the vocals keep you grounded. There is a blended vocal performance that calls out to you through the soundscape. There is a hidden strength in this track that fills you with resilience and the desire to carry on. It is a really motivating track that fills you with positive vibes while acknowledging that there is a balance between light and dark in everything in the world.

Hairy Penguins helps you get into a positive mindset through the delicately blended and balanced tones of Triptych. The EP is packed with driving beats, soaring guitars and heavy messaging that are infectiously wrapped into engaging songs. Each track tackles a different difficulty in life while helping you move past the negatives and embrace the good and positive vibes.

Find out more about Hairy Penguins on their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.

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