Kowloon Walled City - Piecework (Album Review)

 

Release Date: October 08th 2021. Record Label: Neurot Recordings/Gilead Media. Format: DD/CD/Vinyl

Piecework - Tracklisting

1.Piecework 04:43

2.Utopian 03:37

3.Oxygen Tent 04:40

4.You Had A Plan 05:01

5.Splicing 04:39

6.When We Fall Through The Floor 04:30

7.Lampblack 04:32

Members

Scott Evans - guitar, vocals

Jon Howell - guitar

Ian Miller - bass

Dan Sneddon - drums

Review

Piecework is the first album from Post-Sludge/Doom/Noise Rock Heavyweights Kowloon Walled City in six years. Maybe the pandemic delayed this album quite a bit but six years is still long by KWC standards. I thought the guys had split up or just focused on other musical projects (still hoping for another SNAILFACE record) but it seems they were biding their time for their new album.

Piecework is KWC stripped back in every way of thinking for the band. The album runs over 30 minutes in total and the long drawn out industrial Post-Doom/Sludge Metal solo are replaced by a less abrasive sound that sees the band play a more direct Sludge Rock style of music. The music is undeniably Kowloon Walled City and has a seedy undertone to it all. Ian Millar’s bass is more to the background that I originally liked but his style of playing is more powerful on this release. 

Kowloon Walled City have been one of the unsung heroes of the Doom/Sludge Metal underground ever since releasing their debut material back in 2008 and Piecework doesn’t disappoint. This is just a different way of music for KWC to deliver their bleak passages whilst still remaining quite hopeful in places especially on the later stages on the record.

The opening two songs Piecework and Utopian has that deep KWC philosophical way of thinking with the emotionally charged lyrics but it’s the band’s delivery of music that fuses Post-Doom, Sludge Metal, Post-Rock and blurry Psychedelic sounds that make you take notice.

The recording process is handled once again by KWC main-man Soctt Evans and it’s one of the cleanest and perhaps emotionally charged records I’ve heard from KWC. The sound of the record is first rate with Piecework moving through the different elements of Doom Metal and Sludge Metal with the true to life Post-Hardcore shine bringing a much needed dose of reality to proceedings.

This album is quite riff-centric with KWC showing flashes of Progressive Sludge Rock/Metal on other songs such as Oxygen Tent, We Had A Plan and When We Fall Through The Floor.

If you’re a first time listener to Kowloon Walled City then Piecework is the perfect introduction or gateway to this amazing band’s body of work. From this you can check their earlier records that all show a different side to this legendary band. 

Piecework may not be as heavy or as threatening as KWC’s earlier records but this is still an outstanding album that some bands would love to release themselves. Overall, Piecework is a challenging, emotionally charged and thrilling record that allows Kowloon Walled City to write a new exciting chapter for themselves. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Lauren at Rarely Unable PR for the promo. Piecework is available to buy on CD/Vinyl from the links below:

kowloonwalledcity.merchtable.com

neurotrecordings.merchtable.com

gileadmedia.net

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Twitter | Instagram

Kowloon Walled City - Grievances (Album Review)

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

Official | Facebook | BandCamp