Release
date: October 09th 2015. Label: Neurot Recordings/Gilead Media. Formats:
CD/DD/Vinyl
Grievances
- Tracklisting
1.Your
Best Years 06:05
2.Grievances
06:38
3.Backlit
04:54
4.The
Grift 03:47
5.White
Walls 04:46
6.True
Believer 06:01
7.Daughters
and Sons 05:16
Band
Members:
Scott
Evans - voice, guitar.
Jon
Howell - guitar.
Julia
Lancer - drums.
Ian
miller - bass.
Review:
I've
not known about Kowloon Walled City for all that long. A Facebook
chum shared the track "Diabetic Feet" and after a few
seconds I was hooked. I all but immediately downloaded both "Gambling
On The Richter Scale" and the frankly magnificent "Container
Ships" and when I realised they had a new record on the way (and
out on the immense Neurot Recordings) it felt like I was counting the
days until I could hear it.
That
day arrived. I downloaded the file, Transferred the record to my
phone, put in my headphones and waited for that same kind of jaw
dropping reaction I got the first time I heard Kowloon Walled City.
Let
me tell you. I didn't get that feeling.
From
the opening refrain of the first track "Your Best Years" it
was immediately obvious I was listening to KWC due to the distinctive
and beautiful sound they have (the same way Yob, or Conan have a
sound that's synonymous with them) but it didn't have that initial
punch of say "The Pressure Keeps Me Alive" or the
aforementioned "Diabetic Feet".
This
record is a very different beast. And it's one that took me a few
listens to get. But I get it now. My God do I get it.
This
seems a much deeper, bleaker, and maybe a more personal record? As
bleak and oppressive as the city they are named after. After a few
listens I would say that "Your Best Years" is a powerful
and claustrophobic way to open a record. It confused me at first as
there are more immediate songs on the record, but now it just makes
perfect fucking sense.
This
album is a journey, and like all journeys it's heading somewhere and
every stop on the way is as important as the destination.
Title
track "Grievances" is a similar, bleak affair with a sparse
stripped back verse with an awesome barked vocal that reminds me of
the glory days of bands like Helmet and Handsome at their grittiest.
"Backlit"
is up next and had already been available to stream (though as I'm an
awful human I forget via who) and is closer in spirit to my mind of
some of the bands earlier works.
"The
Grift" is another big hitter, full to bursting with massive
riffs and hooks and vocals that convey desperation, anger and some
real feeling to them which really brings the track alive. It's a bit
like Converge fisting Quicksand. Turn it up and just let yourself get
lost in this one.
"White
Walls" just crawls out of the speakers oozing menace and
heartfelt rage as the drums crash around freely over the guitars
until about 1.12 when a series of jarring stabs kick in as Scott
Evans bellows over the top "White Walls/Feel White/Send A
Message"
Around
about the third or fourth time I listened through to this record,
something just clicked and I fell in love with it just I had done
with their previous albums. It seems each song as the records moves
to it's conclusion intensifies in both heaviness, and meaning.
“True
Believer" is no exception to this and whilst is a slower track
and a little less furious than the tracks that have gone before still
packs a hefty punch.
The
album concludes on "Daughters And Sons" which showcases the
band brilliantly as that familiar almost clean, but somehow dirty
guitar rages all over it.
Just
over half way, the drums and bass take centre stage for a minute with
a delicious repetitive but effective passage as the song kind of just
fades away. I'm listening to the album while I write this and
honestly, I could fucking cry. But in the very best way.
You
know what? In many ways I'm glad I didn't get this straight away, as
this is a beautiful and challenging album full of hope, menace and
feeling. And sometimes you need to work to get your rewards and I
promise you this album is full of them.
Words
by Simon Ross Williams
Thanks
to Earsplit PR and Lauren at Rarely Unable PR for the promo.
Grievances is available to buy on CD from Neurot Recordings and Vinyl from Gilead Media.
Links
