On their first full-length album Less of Everything, U.K.-based punk quartet ES strike a particular balance between the dismal minimalism of goth rock and the vibrating fury of punk. Guitar-free instrumentals made up of drums, synth, and chorus-drenched bass feel inherently spacious, leaving plenty of room for Maria Tedemalm's vocals to push the songs forward. The album starts with one of its strongest songs, "Chemical." Interplay between nervy rhythms and frigid synth lines recall more punk-leaning Factory Records bands like Section 25 and Joy Division while Tedemalm sings of exhaustion and mental angst. Themes of claustrophobia and a crowded internal world resurface throughout the album. Katy Cotterell's propulsive bass lines provide the fuel for many songs, with driving yet melodic parts for standout songs like "Foundation" and "Unsavoury" adding hints of color to the band's greyscale tones. Less of Everything remains in more or less the same gear for its duration, with each of the nine songs landing in a similar place. It's an icy album that expresses anxiety, dread, and upheaval with a poker face. Even when Tedemalm is shouting about apocalyptic destruction and the band is bashing at full power on "Kingdom Come," ES transmits their darkness from a cool, controlled distance. This shouldn't be confused with restraint because there's no holding back here. Instead, the detached intensity of Less of Everything just amplifies its mysterious energy.