Translate

Album Review- Civil Villains- Motion Sick

-

 

As Reviewed by Anselm Anderson

Alt-rockers Civil Villains recently released the album Motion Sick. This a follow-up to the debut EP Snake Oil. The trio include influences from widespread as David Bowie and QOTSA to create a unique blend of dark instrumentation, angular riffs and soft vocal melodies.

Formed in London back in 2016, the trio have worked hard through their dedication to the art via two North American tours and support slots to such luminaries as Bellevue Days, Poly-Math and Kid Kapichi. Recorded at Shaken Oak Studios by Mike Bannard (Foals, Glass Animals), Motion Sick is the finished article of years of hard work.

The LP begins on a sombre note with the instrumental intro of 'Funeral Rouge' setting the scene for the first half of the album. The unstable  'Mortuary Blues' kicks things off with its jagged riffs and clever use of pull and tension building the atmosphere to an unsettling end. The mix of bluesy vocals and harsh ones further amplifies the struggles of the music.

Next up is 'Bayou Autonomy' which echoes the tension of the previous track with lead vocalist James King's cries at the centre of a duel between the grooves of bassist Mark Hudson and King's chilling guitar rhythms. The album takes a trip through various genre changes and carefully constructed riffs to tell stories of social observations. 

Civil Villains attempt to change direction at the halfway stage with stripped-back melodic tracks like 'Nightbloom', 'Petrichor' and 'Present Tense' offering a reprieve to the hectic and unpredictable tracks like 'Cornerstone' and 'Anaesthesia Whores'.

And finally, the energetic 'Cavalier Blonde' perks things up towards the end with its bluesy leads, irregular rhythms and catchy chorus wrapping up an interesting introduction to Civil Villains.

Overall, Civil Villians aim to overcome motion sickness with a slick release that finds a way to blend genres as diverse as, blues, metal, and rock into crafted songwriting and intelligent lyrical content.

'Motion Sick' is now available via all good streaming and distribution outlets.


Follow this link here to keep updated with all the latest news, interviews, and reviews from Rambling Man.



Social Media Links

https://twitter.com/CivilVillains

https://www.instagram.com/civil_villains

https://www.facebook.com/civilvillainsband

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7u2kiFIIHeCkf9mUecXJ3p


CIVIL VILLAINS are: 

James King - Lead vocalist and guitar;

 Mark Hudson – Bass; 

Toby Warren - Drums and additional vocals.


Click on the video links via the Civil Villains Youtube channel below to watch 'Mortuary Blue' and 'Cornerstone'

Mortuary Blue (Official Video)





Cornerstone (Official Music Video)





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

EP Review: Saint Diablo Embraces the past on "The Reckoning"

-
Image
  Words from Anselm Anderson Nu-Metal is making a return with a bang. The latest band to embrace the genre that mixed down-tuned guitars with mixing desks and aggressive vocals about personal struggles and social anxieties is Virginia-based sextet,  Saint Diablo. Today, the Latin Americans release their latest four-track EP 'The Reckoning' via Eclipse Records.  The band consists of lead vocalist Tito Quinones, guitarist Justin Adams, bassist Zach San Pietro, drummer Anthony San Pietro, and percussionist Awesome Ray Ray. It has released two full releases to date, including 2015's critically -acclaimed Devils, Horns and Halos. The Reckoning  is no exception as the band delivers four sizzling tracks of apoplectic rage, thunderous riffs and catchy choruses to set themselves loose on the metal world. Upon first listening, I felt the band reminded me of the 2000's Latin Nu-metal group Il Nino. Ironically, this EP  was mixed, mastered, and recorded by the band's prod...
Read more

Eclipse Records News: IN WE FALL signs exclusive worldwide deal with the legendary Metal Label

-
Image
Photo Credit: Carlos Nemeth   New album Inner Self set for release on December 13th Iconic Record Label Eclipse Records  has announced its latest acquisition with the signing of In We Fall to a worldwide exclusive deal. An alternative metal band from Vila Real, Portugal, In We Fall, is known for creating a distinct and exotic sound through a mixture of alternative metal, progressive metal, and grunge. The band recently finished recording their debut full-length album entitled Inner Self which will be released on December 13, 2024. The album was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Daniel Moreira, at EvoluiSom Studios .    guitarist Carlos Carneiro says of the signing “We are really thrilled about signing with Eclipse Records and looking forward to the best work we can do with them!” says guitarist Carlos Carneiro. “Our debut album is ready to be released, so it really is great to be able to have this kind of support from them at this stage of our careers! Vo...
Read more

EP Review: Paradis- Self Titled

-
Image
  Words by Anselm Anderson Metalcore act Paradis released their hotly-anticipated self-titled debut EP last week, The quintet combines the raw ferocity of the genre's vocals with the dark atmospheric music of black metal, which is a unique approach to the revived genre, once maligned by metalheads all over. Formed in London, England, the multicultural group consists of vocalist Johnny Weaver, guitarists Pedro Silva and Federico Di Biase, bassist Mark Kuchmenko and drummer Flynn Everard. The band commented on how this was a team effort, reflected over five intense, headbanging tracks. Photo Credit: Michael Williams One notable aspect of this EP is the diversity of the tracks. Paradis delivers powerful and ominous metal with impactful orchestration and bone-shaking breakdowns. The band's creative ideas allow the music to take on a life of its own, showcasing a contrast between aggressive, angst-filled vocals paired with heavy riffs, and melodic vocals set against gothic underton...
Read more