Album Type:
Full Length
Date Released:
26/02/2016
Label:
Independent
As it is, there are some killer songs on here – namely ‘Blood
Moon’, ‘Idiot Time’ and ‘Ordinary Kind’ – but it still feels like there is room
to grow for this band. Yet, as their track record suggests, they seem locked in
a state of perpetual evolution and experimentation, and for that, they have to
be lauded.
“Tricolossus” CD//DD track listing:
1. Blood Moon
2. Government Whores
3. Deep Blue Fish
4. Idiot Time
5. Ordinary Kind
6. But A Scratch
7. I Had Dreamt I WasMan.
8. Pan-Galactic Peaceniks
9. Roll It Over
10. 21 Tonnes
11. Casa De Eduardo
2. Government Whores
3. Deep Blue Fish
4. Idiot Time
5. Ordinary Kind
6. But A Scratch
7. I Had Dreamt I Was
8. Pan-Galactic Peaceniks
9. Roll It Over
10. 21 Tonnes
11. Casa De Eduardo
The Review:
‘Tricolossus’,
as the title of this Redhill power trio’s first full length release suggests,
is a veritable threesome of mighty sounds. Combining here is grimy grunge, hazy
stoner rock and puncturing, aggressive punk. Yet, despite such opposing forces
vying for your aural G-spot at all times, the multitude of fumbling hands only
heightens the sense of pleasure that diving into bed with this album portrays.
Too many cooks can indeed spoil the broth but here each song progresses with a
fluidity that justifies their multi-faceted means.
Taking the templates of their almost pop punk debut
EP ‘Juice’ and it’s heavier follow
up, ‘Otherside’, they have here
found a way to make several musical styles feel at home alongside each other without
the music feeling disjointed, convoluted or confused.
Take a song like ‘Ordinary Kind’ which begins with a repetitive, chugging bass line and
moody, atmospheric drumming; which leads you by the hand into an ear-worm in
the making chorus, complete with lofty ‘ooh aahs’. That’s all before the final
chapters are dedicated to a punk-edged, furious battle scene of rapid fire
guitars and ambitious, layered acapella vocals which later cry out over the
fading remnants of the battle. While the vocals may not be spectacular – more
outer than inner bullseye in terms of execution – you cannot fault their desire
to push their own boundaries and are taking on a task that many other bands of
their ilk would cower away from.
‘But A
Scratch’, conversely, merges a fast paced aggression with a melodious
chorus; an intricate, detailed bass line colouring the background beneath.
Alongside the Clutch
meets Fu
Manchu on happy pills boogie rock of ‘Deep Blue Fish’, it represents a moment where it all comes together
with a convincing gusto.
‘Blood Moon’,
which opens the album, is founded upon an evil blues shuffle on top of which
the vocalist really makes his own. It’s a stanch introduction – the progressive
interlude of the middle section, flavoured by Eastern flavoured guitar and
flutes hinting at them being more than just sounds to get high to – works hard
to wholly represent their sound as a whole. While it would be unfair to praise
or dismiss the quality of the record based solely on this track, it does give
you a taste of things to come.
‘Casa De
Eduardo’ meanwhile, pocked with Spanish tonalities, may stand for their
outside-the-box thinking and keenness to surprise, comes across more whimsical
than it does a stroke of genius.
In the end of course it all comes down to personal
preference and perception. For me, while it pertains many flavoursome hallmarks
that make this a multi-dimensional release, I feel it needs that extra dash of
spice, an extra punch or zest to kick it up a notch to be truly impressive. To
make you keep coming back for repeat listens.
As it is, there are some killer songs on here –
namely ‘Blood Moon’, ‘Idiot Time’ and ‘Ordinary Kind’ – but it still feels like
there is room to grow for this band. Yet, as their track record suggests, they
seem locked in a state of perpetual evolution and experimentation, and for
that, they have to be lauded. Could the best be yet to come?
“Tricolossus” is available here
