- Mon, 2011-04-18 11:45
There have been whispers about a grunge revival for quite some time now, and though a number of young bands have been flying the flag for the late eighties/early nineties grubby guitars and big choruses aesthetic, it hasn’t quite amounted to a ‘new wave’ as yet. Among those bands considered to be at the vanguard of this long-mooted revival are London’s Japanese Voyeurs, who barged their way into our lives with their debut EP back in 2009. Many an interested observer has tracked their progress since, and excitement about their debut album Yolk – the release of which draws ever nearer – has steadily grown.
The release of their new single Get Hole will only heighten that excitement. The comparison may have been made many times before, but there is an inescapable echo in Romily Alice’s vocals of KatieJane Garside, in terms of both the naïf delivery of early Daisy Chainsaw material and the more troubled whisper of her QueenAdreena days. However, Alice establishes a real sense of presence, and when set against the heavier musical background of Get Hole her charisma is all her own. The guitars resonate with the demonic fuzz of Kyuss, but anchored by a rhythm section whose stately pace exudes a steely determination they lose the freneticism of that band. There’s a hint of Black Sabbath in the occasional guitar licks, and a monolithic outro tailor-made for head-banging completes the potent brew.
Whether they're part of a larger grunge revival or not, Yolk is definitely an album to look forward to.
