Album Review: Sorority Noise – ‘You’re Not As ____ As You Think’

Emo four-piece Sorority Noise have been climbing higher and higher in the scene over the past few years with the release of their debut album, Forgettable, and, 2015’s follow up ‘Joy, Departed’. Since forming in 2013 the band have been on numerous US tours and festival appearances, sharing the stage with bands including Turnover, Modern Baseball and Citizen. They have also made their way overseas to the UK and Europe for the first time. 

Friday 17^th March saw the release of the quartet's third album ‘You’re Not As ___ As You Think’ via Triple Crown Records. An album that is heavily centred around the struggles of mental health and the loss of loved ones. Consisting of ten songs that are pained with raw and honest emotion and an altogether mournful undertone. Despite this, the message that Sorority Noise have managed to deliver with their third album is still an uplifting one that has hope at the forefront: tell people you love them while you still can and never be afraid to reach out for help. This isn’t a record to be brushed by; to be a soundtrack in the background of day-to-day activities. This is a record to be concentrated on, to be listened to from front to back with no distractions. In short, if you’re going to completely immerse yourself in a new album, make it this one.

The contrast between the bright, uplifting instrumental and the bleak lyricism is what carries the album but vocalist, Cameron Boucher’s, brutal honesty is what makes the record such a fulfilling listen. ‘You’re Not As ___ As You Think’ is the follow-up to 2016’s ‘It Kindly Stopped for Me’ EP that was dedicated to a close friend that Boucher had lost. This album serves as the next step as Boucher delves even further into the emotions felt when dealing with grief. Recorded with producer Mike Sapone, who’s back-catalogue consists of Brand New and Taking Back Sunday. ‘YNA_AYT’ is not unlike the former’s second breakthrough album ‘Deja Entendu’. 

              

Album opener ‘No Halo’ showcases Sorority Noise doing what they do best with a loud chorus layered with jangly guitars as Boucher speaks of missing his friend’s funeral and driving to their house instead. The track closes with him questioning ‘So when you show up to my funeral, will you be wearing white or black?’. Boucher’s questioning within his lyrics is a theme that is followed throughout the entire album. This is particularly demonstrated in ‘Second Letter from St. Julien’ where he questions and tests religion throughout stating ‘If there’s a God do I make him proud?’ before directing his narrative to the friend whom the song is named after asking instead ‘If you’re with God am I making you proud by waking up each day?’

‘A Portrait Of’ sees the second reference, of many, to heaven. With a palm-muted guitar under-laying the vocal melody. The song delves into a hopeful territory as Boucher delivers a spoken word monologue over a heavily distorted outro where he states ‘I have to do everything in my power to be the person I can be and live my life the best way I can.’  

‘Where Are You’ and ‘Car’ present a conversational narrative with the former speaking of wounds being healed and offering a sense of closure. The latter, an empathetic song about the struggles that come with mental health issues and facing grief, delivering a comfort that is; even when you’re feeling completely alone in your struggles there are always people feeling the same way.

Debut single ‘A Better Sun’ is a spoken word track with every lyric beginning with the phrase ‘This is the part where…’ in this vein the song is similar to the teaser video the band previously released for the record, which displays the album title being painted and then the blank being filled in with words including ‘hurt’, ‘happy’ and ‘empty’. The way ‘A Better Sun’ is structured lyrically makes the listener feel as if they could be filling in the blanks at the end of the phrase. It’s a song that is bound to make you feel like a part of the album.  

Penultimate track ‘Leave the fan On’ delivers the most downbeat performance on the record with a simple slow instrumental and a set of lyrics that feel as if Boucher is searching for a direction, answers and purpose within them, all while remembering ‘what it’s like to feel the vacancy’ in his chest. The song kicks into a strong instrumental towards its end in a cathartic outburst that feels like a complete outpour and reflection of every emotion that has been displayed throughout the rest of the album.

By creating an album title that allows the listener to complete its name therefore making it relate all the more directly, ‘You’re Not As ___ As You Think’ is bound to leave an effect on everyone who listens. With a sense of unafraid honesty Sorority Noise have managed to create ten songs that pull you through the process of loss and grief in an album that leaves you with a sense of comfort upon its ending, and, an album that people will surely come back to time and time again to realize that comfort.  

Album Review: Vukovi – ‘Vukovi’

Glasgow experimental-rock natives Vukovi have just released their debut self-titled album. Over the past few years the band have built up a solid fan-base, performed on numerous tours around the UK and released three EPS, 2011’s ‘…But I Won’t Wear You Again’ and ‘It Looked So Good On Me’ and, 2012’s ‘Sweet Swears’. The band originally formed with current members; Hamish Reilly (Guitar), Jason Trotter (Bass) and Colin Irving (Drums) under the name ‘Wolves’ soon recruited vocalist Janine Shilstone and renamed themselves Vukovi.

Latest single ‘La Di Da’ sets off the album at a fast pace with a distortion packed dark instrumental. There’s a similarity to the sound that ‘Love, Robot’ captured on their second album ‘B.A.D.’ Almost immediately you can hear that this isn’t a record that’s going to hold back lyrically, with the track delving into the story of an abusive relationship. Second track ‘And He Lost His Mind’ follows the pace set by ‘La Di Da’, a menacing guitar riff driven song that touches on the subject of alcohol and drug abuse and its affects.

‘Weirdo’ sets a lighter tone, with a bouncy introduction and a heavy pop-rock sensibility, track six ‘Bouncy Castle’ follows in the same vein with electronic elements shining through the chorus with the track truly living up to its name, it really is bouncy. This is just the first taste of the versatility of the record. Track eight ‘I’m Wired’ also captures the band’s pop-rock side, with a dance feel, more electronics carrying the chorus, and, one of the most powerful vocal performances on the album, it’s reminiscent of PVRIS track St. Patrick.

‘Prey’ and ‘Boy George’ showcase the albums more aggressive moments. ‘Prey’ is led by a powerful guitar melody and highlights some of the best lyricism on the record with the chorus melody stating ‘We are deadly monsters waiting for you under your bed'. ‘Boy George’ is riff heavy and bursting with attitude held down by an instrumental that’s derived influence from Rage against the Machine.

Closing track ‘Colour Me In’ serves as a curve-ball and an absolute highlight for the album. An emotional track that details love for somebody close whether they’re still here or not. Making for the slowest track on the album, a dreamy guitar melody and simple drumbeat support the vocals throughout the verses before building up into a strong chorus displaying the lyrics ‘You colour me in from my skin to my bones’.  Eventually cascading into a powerful bridge followed by a soaring guitar solo and a final chorus.

With their debut album Vukovi have proved that they’re a band you can’t pigeonhole. With twelve excellent songs that balance between alternative rock and pop. Being unafraid to touch on serious subject matter throughout the entire record also makes it an incredibly honest listen. With such a strong debut album it’s guaranteed you’ll be seeing and hearing a lot more of Yukovi in the future.

‘Vukovi’ is currently available to purchase on ITunes.

Watch the official music video for ‘La Di Da’ here -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXPM8nXR3Z8

Album Review: Conor Lane Guitar – 'Origin'

The follow up to last year’s EP ‘8% Mango’ Lane’s debut album sees a massive step-up in both song writing and production.

Having been the lead guitarist for punk/hardcore band ‘Bear Safari’ since 2012, Lane first began writing solo material in 2013 initially under the persona ‘Life in the Fast Lane’. After accumulating three years’ worth of work he then went on to remarket the project simply under the name ‘Conor Lane Guitar’ and released debut EP ‘8% Mango’.

Almost a year on and he is gearing up for the release of his debut album ‘Origin’. Upon asking what the album means to him Lane quotes ‘If this album were to say anything, it would be to show how I interpret the concept of music, and if that can inspire other people as much as it’s inspired me, then that’s more than I could ever ask for.’

Packed with magnificent guitar work, brilliant orchestrations and featuring guest’s solos by Patrick Somoulay, David Lovejoy and Sims Cashion, Lane has managed to create a record that almost feels as if it could be the soundtrack to blockbuster cinema. In short, if you’re going to listen to an instrumental record this month, make it this one.

Opening the record is debut single ‘Graphite’ coming in at full throttle with a tasteful set of riffs before corresponding into a pre-chorus of chugging. With a synth-like build up bringing to song to a quick stop before diving into to the first guitar solo. Graphite acts as the perfect introduction.

‘2001 DKS’ begins to show the somewhat lighter side of Lane’s song writing, with ambient bass-driven melodies, quite a bizarre song-structure and a beautifully performed guest solo from Patrick Somoulay of Reflections, 2001 feels like a great segway between the opening track and the rest of the album.

Heading back into the grit displayed in ‘Graphite’ are tracks three and four ‘Crimson Cake’ and ‘Miraculous Escape’, the former initially being an instrumental idea for Bear Safari that Lane choose to eventually develop into a solo track. ‘Crimson Cake’ feels like a continuation or sequel to ‘Graphite’ while ‘Miraculous Escape’ features a guest solo from David Lovejoy of Sorrow Plagues and leaves room for a wide range of orchestrations, the type of sounds you’d hear in the build-up within a horror film.

‘This Town’ pulls the record to a slow-down. As well as ‘2001 DKS’ it’s a track that allows room for the bassline to be most prominent, accompanied by a simple drumbeat and delicate guitar that builds up before crashing into a commanding solo and an outro that makes for one of the most soaring on the album.

‘Guttural Alpha’ is a gut-punching instrumental that is backed by chugged chords and layered melodies. Track seven ‘MPLESRUP’ makes for the shortest song on the album at just two minutes and five seconds. Although being the shortest it’s probably the most brutal. The excessive use of guitar bends and the drive behind all the instruments makes it clear that Lane wanted to make the most of what the listener gains from these two minutes.

You’re probably in for a surprise with eighth track ‘Summer’ as it’s the only non-instrumental song on the record, featuring guest vocals from Evertim’s Alex Tuck. The song is reminiscent of early ‘Bullet for my Valentine’ material with Tuck switching between harsh and clean vocals throughout and a chorus melody that supports Lane’s instrumental perfectly.

Penultimate track ‘Rafiki’ bares a resemblance to the orchestrations heard in ‘Miraculous Escape’ creating a suspenseful atmosphere as the song begins. Laced with layered harmonies and some of the most driving rhythm section parts on the album. Topped off with an ending that seems to transition into final track ‘Origin’ effortlessly.

Title track ‘Origin’ closes out the record, at a staggering eight minutes long it’s a combination of everything previously heard and if that weren’t enough a guest solo by Sims Cashion adds an entirely new element to the track in what is a truly anthemic ending.

‘Origin’ will be available from March 8^th on ITunes, Spotify, Deezer and Bandcamp.

Watch the official music video for ‘Graphite’ here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYC1Th5LWiQ

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