There’s quite a bit of hype surrounding this band, with plenty of radio play, press and their recent signing with Modern Sky UK. Their debut EP Vox Pop got them a fair bit of attention in 2020 and now, their full length is sure to turn a few heads too as they continue to carve out their path.
First of all, you can really tell these guys are from Sheffield. The whole record has that dreary industrial ‘steel city’ vibe, painting mental images of nighttime streets and towering factories. It’s an atmospheric post-punk Joy Division-esque soundscape that captures the listener’s attention, sucking you into the world the band are creating.
The first three songs are solid, driving tracks which keep the pace up until ‘VACANCY’ drops it a little; perfectly placed fourth as track in. Dreamy, soaring and slightly less driving than the opening three, it slows down the album slightly and paves the way for ‘LOSING ALL INHIBITIONS’ to pick it back up again after.
The latter is a track which really pulls from some different places – jagged electronic elements, haunting guitars and poignant vocals from Lawrence Feenstra set to the backdrop of a solid rhythm section and multiple peaks and troughs.
The record then carries on with much of the same thing until ‘FOR NOW’ which is the quietest, most atmospheric and slowest song on the record. Offering some variety in what feels at times to be a ‘samey’ album it shows something of what these guys can offer in terms of experimentation. ‘A REVERIE’ is one of the highlights, with its haunting repetition, echo-drenched production and driving bassline. Parts of this album sound simply huge and close to greatness.
What the album sometimes lacks in variety, it makes up for with enthusiasm and high production values. There are some clear highlights and beautiful moments, but the band need to push the boat out more and break the mould a bit to really stand out from the crowd in a tough scene.