Recluse - Anhedonia - (EP REVIEW)
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Monday, 12 July 2010 |
Written by Adam Simpson
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Recluse are an unsigned Cardiff based three piece alternative rock band. Their latest EP Anhedonia is available for download now.
They formed in July '08 and have been interestingly described as sounding like 'Queens of the Stone Age getting molested by Smashing Pumpkins' and 'Early Nirvana kissing Kyuss whilst secretly thinking about Pearl Jam'.
The group are well known on the Welsh gig circuit and have headlined Barfly Cardiff, le Pub Newport as well as several other smaller UK festivals and Recluse are currently finalising a tour with Cardiff band Eject Pilot Eject.
The group produce a heavy, bass filled sound laced with good emotive vocals, which do the well penned lyrics the justice they deserve. The drumming and guitar riffs are fantastic and the varied sound and up and down nature of the songs takes you on several well directed journeys as you listen.
Passing Cars is the first track on the EP and is currently available as a single from the groups Myspace page. www.myspace.com/recluseuk. The heavy metallic guitar melody and scratchy riffs set a steady, noise filled background to the song, kept together with excellent stomping drumming. The guitar and drums work brilliantly together and the vocals are equally as impressive. They stroll through the track, until near the end where they really stretch and strain, before the instruments then pick it up a notch and a lovely deep bass line kicks in for good measure. It is a track that grows and grows musically and vocally. An excellent choice for a single release.
We Could Both Use Someone is less exuberant guitar-wise, but the drumming is again fantastic and the bass, wow, the bass line is great, warm and deep it plods through the track, before heavy riffs play alongside it as the track explodes into a frenzy of rock. The vocals are full of emotion and sung softly, delivering the lyrics brilliantly, before exploding in parts with the guitar and drums at the heavy points throughout the track.
Dirty Blonde is an infectious explosion of bass filled rock noise. Loud and heavy, the bass and drumming fantastic and the riffs awesome. The track is alive and frantic with an immense bass line again. The vocals too are fantastic, delivering another set of well written lyrics with emotion. The instrument solos throughout the track build and build from plodding bass and drums into an explosion of full on head banging noise before calming, slightly again for the vocals which crack and strain with emotion. It is a long track which demonstrates the group’s musical ability brilliantly; the track rises and falls throughout with everything from full on head banging metal music, through to quite beautiful, steady guitar riffs, with the vocals to match. You could be listening to many great rock musicians at any one time here from Led Zeppelin through to AC/DC and everybody in between.
Remain begins with a lovely soft guitar lick, which builds in volume and pace steadily, with the drums, then falls again. This is much softer and the vocals really come into their own. Midway through, the track then shifts its stance once more and hits us with a lovely infectious instrumental which begins a slight lift in the track, as the group rock once more. It is definitely the fantastic range in the vocals which make this track, the emotion and quality on show is exceptional.
The EP ends with an acoustic version of Passing Cars. It shows a completely different side to the group and a lovely warm sound and a fantastic appreciation of melody. The vocals are once again brilliant and the use of backing vocals is also fantastic.
This EP is diverse and shows real talent. It is not just a bombardment of noise, but a show of diverse ability, vocal strength and an ability to rock out, when required. It ticks all the boxes that you want from a rock record and the sound is both unique and fresh. Recluse have avoided the temptation to turn the volume up to full and produce an over heavy record, instead it is an emotive, well structured selection of tracks, which show a great range in ability and an understanding of sound.
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