Labels: boslevan – City 17 – Omoplata – Wolf Town DIY
Review by: MH
This is a new band from Wolverhampton. One track on either side of a 7inch. Without beating around the bush, there is so much going on here that is right up my street. The “gil-galad” track on side A opens with a lone, sad guitar line that you could loosely wave a Bob Tilton reference at. When the rest of the band and vocals come in it’s something of a powerhouse. Everything is desperate and the vocals are wrought. It’s very rare these days that I listen to anything with screamy vocals but the dual vocals here, while screamy, are more in the realm of something like Yaphet Kotto. However, there is still a slightly measured restraint to the music and a pretty twinkle to the guitars in the quieter moments. This is a band that combines the prettiness and power to great effect. Even the breakdown and the build back up again is superb – it’s so nicely paced too. Also, the riff that rings around the track for the last minute or so – it’s been ringing around my head all week. Ok – enough about one song. On the other side is a more blustering post hardcore track called “elanor” and on this one you can really hear the Yaphet Kotto influence particularly as the track kicks in. It’s a little looser and more chaotic than “gil-galad”. This is 2 songs but it blows me away. I haven’t mentioned yet that the lyrics are Tolkien-themed. I can’t say too much about that though as I’m a bit of a novice when it comes to Tolkien. I’ve mentioned Bob Tilton and I’ve mentioned Yaphet Kotto. I would also say that this fits in nicely with the likes of Wits End (particularly their heavier side) and Asthenia. What an introduction.