BOMBSHELLZINE.COM - 27/01/03
Review by Bomber

They've been playing around for what seems like an eternity now with a few demo cds going around and now it's time for the first proper release. This Sydney three piece have come up with a powerful debut, combining catchy hard rock riffs with at times almost pop vocals and at othertimes vocals as powerful as the guitars. Opening up with 'Midst Of A Spin' and the tone is set, a well structured track, primarily rock but wouldn't go astray in the power pop field. 'Such A Mouth' is a track that could sit well on the radio, smooth intro leading into a powerful chorus that sticks. 'Self Serve' is the more angsty track on here, vocals ranging from hard up to just plain rock, a chorus full of hooks, one to rival the pub rock boys. 'Daily Juice' could very well find itself on the radio, the more pop rock number on here, still keeping up the power but stripped a few levels back, probably the most catchy track on offer, shows they can pull it back and not just rock hard all the time. Closing it up is 'Dead Air', my fave track on here, powerful hard rock throughout, a ripper and one that would be a live highlight. 9/10

REVOLVER - 03/02/03
Review by Josh Kiff SKUNK.

Girl-fronted Western Sydney rockers Polystigma deliver their new EP The Self Serve EP that contains 5 tracks that brace all of the good things about girl rock bands. Take the deep, dark and rocking style of Nitocris and throw them into a room with Skulker's molding vocals and you have yourself something along the lines of that. Brooding and calculating Such A Mouth is pounding and gripping, almost on the verge of urgent. While the fast paced Self Serve is fuelled by wicked lashings of angst and a melodic/screaming combo that is interesting, and Daily Juice is more of a straight out rocker that you oculd hear JJJ or MMM succumbing to seconds. This is one strong EP and should see more than a few eyebrows rasied. Rock'n'roll in all its glory.

CRUSTYMUSIC.NET - 11/03/03
Review by Crusty.

"Self Serve me up some Daily Juice!" What's this?! ...after laying back, closing my eyes and soaking in five Polystigma songs blasting at me through my stereo speakers, i'm in shock after it seems like the CD suddenly finished and i've been woken from my Self Serve of musical euphoria! In these times of doom & gloom reality can sometimes bring you down, but the music i'm helping myself to on the Self Serve EP has the complete opposite effect! The positive energy that this trio produce musically is mind blowing to say the least, and this will take them far.

Musically The Self Serve E.P. has a clear, high quality production, with each instrument being mixed into the session quite nicely to result in a very heavy rock sound. With each kick of the bass drum, hell driven guitar riff, or the pluck of a bass string, you can't help but become more addicted to The Self Serve vibe. And as for the EP vocally, well i reakon that not even the worst recording possible could hide the heaps sweet & aggressively soulful voice of Jaime, and she plays a fuckin' mean guitar as well! Also Kimb provides the backing vocals, adding her own vitaly powerful & energetic ingredient to each Polystigma song.

The band on the The Self Serve E.P. consists of Jaime (guitars/vocals) & Kimb (bass/vocals), with Wayne Keen on drums. The CD was produced by Rhys Webb, Kimb, and Jaime, it has a running time of 17 minutes & 42 seconds, and the track list is as follows...

Midst of a Spin - straight up this song starts the EP with a big fat dose of ROCK driven grunge, which instantly brings to mind the feel of being very drunk & in a mosh pit...

Such a Mouth - "featuring the classic musical architecture that is shaped so well to form the basis of the Polystigma song", i.e. huge rock sounds mixed with a mind blowing sing-a-long chorus!

Self Serve - this is a highly energetic song that will be a Polystigma live classic for years to come. The track features quite prominently those very unique killer vocal harmonys that are screamed out like a mad woman trippin' out on some bad acid! (cool as!), and is also avaliable for download from www.mp3.com.au/polystigma

Daily Juice - here we have a ballad, and a quite beautifully performed one it is too. The lyrics get a bit soppy but the music keeps rockin':)

Dead Air - the heavy rock monster, blowing out the backend of the CD with a force to be reckoned with, just confirming that Polystigma have taken a massive leap forward musically on this EP.

To finish up the review i should say something negative, um.... well there is no lyric sheet... that's about it...:) Anyways, why don't you go and serve yourself up a slice of the Polystigma sound & have a listen to the mp3...