It’s starting to look as though 75% of the year’s music releases are landing on July 21st. I can’t play and review ‘em quickly enough as the tide continues to rise. It’s going to be a great day for music fans, that’s for sure. Amongst the slew of ace releases is this eponymous EP from Allusondrugs (as in, using questionable syntax, all us on drugs), who’ve built themselves quite a reputation in the two years since they formed, with a trio of killer single releases and some belting live shows.
The five-piece describe themselves – somewhat vaguely – as psychedelic alt-rock grunge, although this makes more sense if you ever get to catch them in concert. The six tracks here crystallize the grunge side of their sound, coming on primarily like ‘Bleach’ era Nirvana, and carrying it off with aplomb.
‘I’m Your Man’ may share a title with one of Leonard Cohen’s later hits, but it’s pure Nirvana, melding a dense overdriven guitar to a thumping rhythm section and courtesy of Jason Moules’ drawling, gritty vocals that strike the perfect Cobain-esque balance between ennui and angst. You know what? It’s a killer track: Nirvana were the band of a generation for a reason and the fact their sound is now influencing the next generation isn’t something to criticise. Especially when bands like Allusondrugs show they’ve a knack for penning their own killer riffs and cracking tunes, and deliver them with such pure energy.
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For this reason, the grungy bluster of ‘Ted, What’s the Porn Like In Heaven?’ is an exhilarating guitar-led rush of noise, and the squalling ‘Cherry Pie’ distills the very essence of ‘Bleach’ into three and a half minutes. It’s fiery, it rages, and it’s fucking great.
‘Sunset Yellow’ marks a distinct change of pace, a mellow, shoegze indie tune in the verses that’s laid to waste in the explosive choruses. ‘Thingio’ wraps things up with a monster vocal hook and a throbbing, grinding guitar that’s nothing short of pulverizing.
It’s a strong set of songs performed with heart, soul and guts, and make no mistake, this is a band on the up.
Allusondrugs Online
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