By David O’Neill
This Brighton based quintet have made a bit of noise since forming in 2021 including a recent supporting slot with Tailgunner, and not one but two inclusions (in consecutive months) on our very own Singles Club playlist, culminating with them earning one of our highly coveted #DailyPick slots just this past weekend… So, will their debut album wind its way into our hearts? There’s only one way to find out, isn’t there?
Opening with distorted sludgy guitars, the bass/drum driven track ‘The Taste’ grabs you by the hair (if you’re still fortunate enough to have any) and will have you nodding your head in sync with it. Not only that but the vocals of Josh Clarke get into your ears and just won’t leave… then there’s the breakdown and solo! Hell’s teeth its good.
One of the #SinglesClub choices from the album, ‘Dementia Lounge’ is the next offering. More distorted guitar riffage will get a mosh pit running in about three seconds flat and keep it going for the three minutes of the track. Without pausing for breath (nor taking too long with their efforts) another bumping three minutes is the seriously riffy ‘Gods’, displaying the efforts of Max Horn (lead) and Jack Cox (rhythm) very well.
Back to more distorted guitar opening on ‘How Calm The Silence’ is a bit slower and the vocals of Clarke take the lead over the rhythm section of Seth Markes (drums) and Jack Hollamby (bass) – and it also has some good backing vocals.
Time to draw breath? Not a chance, as the drum/guitar opening riff for’ Open Your Mind’ make you sit up and take notice. I’m pretty sure the backing vocals in the chorus will end up being a crowd participation section at any live gig. The breakdown instrumentation unexpectedly has quite a funky beat to it.
‘Please Me’ provides a little relief from the rapid fire tracks preceding it, but only just. ‘Swing’ is a lot more sludgy, with slow hanging bass/drum rhythms holding it together the vocals of Clarke again sit on top of the instruments to the very laid back guitar section. Listening to the lyrics it is actually quite dark, hence the doom-esque feel to it.
There are only two tracks on the album that are longer than three or four minutes, and the gentler opening on ‘Behind You’ shows the variety the band can produce. It has a clean gentle guitar tone and also has some strings in the background that add to the ambience of the track. There is power in the vocals heading into the breakdown but the guitar playing superbly adds to the track’s emotional feel. The crescendo builds to the outro and it is probably my favourite track on the album due to its variability.
The latest single, ‘Waste’ is next up and after the gentler approach on ‘Behind You’ it’s straight back to in your face rock for this and the next track ‘Lady In Wait’, another flying sub-thee minute track.
The final track has an unusual title in ‘Lazy Brian’, but it is the only other track of five minutes. Opening with a bass riff and another rather funky rhythm throughout, it lopes along to the searing guitar solo and the outro. Another cracker.
If you haven’t heard of The Rattlebacks already, after this release I’m pretty sure you will! I can see them at the likes of Steelhouse and Stonedead festival at some point in the not too distant future!
- ‘Sidewinder‘ will be released on Friday (15 November).
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