The Orwells have caused
serious chaos with their music and live shows, and that's way ahead
of the release of their anticipated sophomore album. Out June 2nd,
Disgraceland gives everything they have and more than we expected.
Opening up with a ballsy,
full of attitude 'Southern Comfort', the Chicago-based band lead a
Garage Rock album in the direction that can only be described as
musical instructions on how not to give a fuck. There's a sense of an
intense upbringing that all escapes through grungy chords that glide
you through the mind of lyricist and front man, Mario Cuomo.
Powering along side a whole
host of bands with a punk-inspired sound, The Orwells manage to
continue to lead the way with songs of epic proportions and neatly
tied together anthems – the cause of such a rowdy live show. Dirty
Sheets, a fan favourite, introduces an overlay of carelessness on top
of a group of intelligently constructed riffs that compliment every
beat that faces a battle for a louder noise. This continues through
the album, as well as a 60s/70s garage band ethos that heavily sits
on the forefront of their music.
Disgraceland is a manifesto
about tough love, a higher self-belief attitude and the general
situations any human comes across during their lifetime – these
guys just say it a bit more straight forward, confirming the idea
that they are on a path of destruction that everyone seems to be
enjoying. Tracks like Gotta Get Down and Who Needs You do nothing but
build upon a bed of frustration and add to the garage-strut that
suitably fits in to all 11 songs.
This album tells a story
that doesn't sit quietly with the listeners and fills every chapter
with power surges that empty out of each chord. It may just be one of
the best debuts of 2014 because of it's fierce nature and the lack of
shying away from opinions on topics we can all associate to. There's
passion, there's inspiration and there's incredible music. We don't
need much more than that but The Orwells are ready to give a whole
lot more.
The Orwells - Disgraceland
Out of 10: 9/10
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