Labels: self released
Review by: Andy Malcolm
Opener “Monuments” reminds me of Clairmel, which doesn’t happen a lot in 2020. Big riffs, big vocals, and pretty catchy to boot. The yelled vocals which crop up now and get are totally reminiscent of that band. Power Trash head off in a slightly differnet direction after that, and “Purgatory” sounds like a grungey version of some of the stuff the Wrens were doing back in the 90s. It has a very phat, crunchy chorus and a surprising amount of keyboards. Power Trash definitely have some similar pop sensibilities that have been spiced up with quirky creativity that the Wrens were messing around with on Secaucus, it’s just a lot cleaner and much less broken. “Gauntlet” has a very serious guitar solo, which I feel like I was waiting for given where the other songs had gone. Just realised they also have a tendency to lean into a bit of Interpol-ish moodiness, and chunky riffs nabbed from the records spinning all night at turn of the centry alt-rock clubs, neither of which I have a problem with.
This is pretty different to anything I listen to in 2020 but I think I like it as I can pick out elements of stuff I was listening to 20 odd years ago. Potentially worth investigating if you like riffy, catchy, and a little bit odd, indie rock.