Labels: self released
Review by: Alex Hannan
ILL SPIRITS’ demo begins with a couple of twangy reverbed guitar chords and gentle cymbal wash as if to introduce some surf or rockabilly goodness, but when the whole band kicks in it’s with a terse garagey feel, the vocalist nailing that pivot between sneer and wail that bands like GORILLA ANGREB pulled off. The riffs are guarded, watchful, not sinking in till the third or fourth listen, but interesting in their slightly unconventional choices and progressions. First song “Not ice age” follows a simple verse/chorus pattern and then dissolves into a static instrumental section on a single chord, finding resolution at the last second.
Second number “The three vermin” takes a slightly slower, more minimalist tack, the guitar pulling out counter-intuitive semi-catchy fills. The recording doesn’t suit this one so well, the bass sounding ineffectual in the greater breathing space beneath the half moaned chorus of “no… no… no… no…” The end of the song moves into short attacks passed between guitar and bass and finally collapses in a heap with the vocalist panting on top. The final two songs both have strong choruses – “we are already ghosts / we are already gone” runs “Ill spirits”, and the instrumental closing section rises to a climactic height, although it gets a little repetitive towards the end. “Sleep obey consume” has a barreling energy and an effective key shift into the chorus, and what lyrics I can make out make me curious to read the rest, phrases like “I’ll eat your shit, I’ll drink your piss” and “what’s the use of legs” flashing past unexpectedly.
These feel like songs of growth, explorations by people beginning to write together – simple verse/chorus/verse/chorus constructions surrounded by different trappings, experimenting with what makes a good bridge or intro. This is not a bad thing – it’s more interesting than the multitudes of bands who have a stylistic groove down pat but little originality. Although I can’t find much information about the band I’d guess some of the participants are not playing their usual instruments, or have not been playing long – and I’m into the fresh awkwardness of these songs. I hope they preserve that quality.