Grunge. Love it or hate it, it changed the musical landscape in the early nineties, and, in the way these things work, we’re now seeing a fair few bands labelled as ‘contenders’ employing some of the tropes first seen and heard amongst Seattle’s finest thirty years ago…
Not least amongst these are Dead Blonde Stars, a group of South Yorkshire hopefuls who’ve already established themselves on the Brit Rock scene with a couple of EPs and and album released since 2015, but are only now coming under the baleful eye of the Sentinel Daily review team…
Their new record, Metamorphosis, understands perfectly how big-sounding, stadium grunge works; the band have just the right mix of sledgehammer nut-cracking and filigree, aching self-absorption, and in opening statements of intent 11 Teeth and This Tree they mark themselves out immediately as a band that not only grasp these concepts – they know how to implement them bloody well, too…
Worlds Apart adds a bit of Bush to the band’s standard Soundgarden sonic stormery; Gary Walker has a fine, strong vocal presence here, hitting the triumphant highs and the despondent lows with equal aplomb. On the record’s glorious standout, Hernan, he gives a spine tingling exhibition of heavy rock vocalising, but it’s hard to finger a misstep or stuttering performance from the man anywhere on the album; even more leaden material like Alaska still benefits from the man’s sureness of touch and if we were handing out MVP gongs for Metamorphosis Walker is the man we’d be heading towards, rictus grin on chops and big cardboard cheque in hand…
That said, this isn’t a one-man show and the rest of DBS – guitarists Tom Gratton and Oliver Thompson, bassist Matt Simons and drummer Jamie Machon – all play their parts to the full in creating the fulsome, all-encompassing sounds to be found on Metamorphosis. There’s a lot to like about this record, and Dead Blonde Stars in general, They’re certainly a name to keep an eye on for the future, but in the meantime they’ve given us a pretty good calling card to be going on with – have a listen and tell me I’m wrong!
Metamorphosis releases on February 3rd.
Learned about these fellas after hearing them through Sel Balamir’s label. Listening to their music, is like traveling back to the days when music, was music. Can’t wait to get a chance to hear this new music!
Unfortunately I cannot comment on the new album as I haven’t been sent my copy yet but this is a talented band that I’ve seen a lot of and tick the right boxes for me and it’s about time they got a break into the big time, have a listen.
Thanks Alan! Always great to see you at a show in your genuine first edition t-shirt. You’ve been behind us since the beginning – top man!