Labels: 49s vs Dolphins – Barely Regal
Review by: MH
This is the debut album from Without Maps who have some crossover of members with La Boite Diabolique and Plaids. I have heard a few of their songs previously and liked what I heard and two of those songs that were on Bandcamp last year materialise again here with a slightly bigger sound. This kicks off with a short post-punky number that is shouty and loud and gone in less than 60 seconds before the next track kicks in. From thereon in, it’s some brash and fast post hardcore featuring some pretty guitar at times, some real forceful driving guitars and plenty of vocals from at least two of them – not quite sure how many in total though. This album is without filler so picking out high points is a tall order. “JCVD” was previously released last year and may or may not be an ode to Jean-Claude Van Damme. The teetering, melodic riff on this track is great. I also had the words “I’m stuck, i’m stuck in the middle” screaming through my head from London to SIngapore and then again from Singapore to Brisbane as a result of listening to this on the plane on the way over. I had a similar experience with “Naked Light” and the line “We were cut from the same cloth”. Both these tracks are absolute belters and although I had heard them before I am still mightily impressed by the pair of them and also others like “Faded Friends” and “Cat Mansion”. The confidently yelled vocals are one of Without Maps’ strengths. There is a little of Plaids in this band and I also hear the influence of Hot Cross – both in the guitar sound and the blend of yelled, frenetic parts and the more melodic riffing and grooving. The other band that springs to mind is At The Drive-in (before they started waffling on about half a pair of scissors etc.). Very impressive debut.