ALBUM REVIEW: Gaslights – Utilitarian
Wearing their hearts and beliefs not only on their sleeves but inspiringly shouting about them until they are hoarse, UTILITARIAN are a band who are literally fighting the power. On their latest album Gaslights, they take aim at a number of targets that deserve to be destroyed.
Mixing pounding death metal, grindcore and d-beat hardcore to deliver their message, UTILITARIAN truly take no prisoners and they sound focused from start to finish as they blast through songs, in fact not even mere songs, these are anthems for the downtrodden, the disfranchised, the people who have just had enough of the bullshit and in UTILITARIAN they have found a band who will not take it lying down. This album acts as the perfect soundtrack to the country falling apart, as the band declare “Look out your window / The world is on fire!”, you can’t help but be bowled over by their fiery and inspiring aural attack.
With a strong anti-racist/anti-homophobe/anti-sexist/anti-transphobe/anti-capitalist outlook, UTILITARIAN rally against these societal ills all through the tracks on Gaslights with songs like Hateriarchy, Pride, Ethics and Gammon Fodder in particular not shy about firing on all cylinders against anyone who aligns with these stupidly abhorrent views.
Joining UTILITARIAN in this good fight are UK metal legends Ol Drake (EVILE) and Andy Whale (BOLT THROWER/MEMORIAM) who lend their guitar and drumming skills respectively on album tracks, Hateriarchy, Gaslights and The Weight. But while these guest spots add a bit of weight to proceedings, this is UTILITARIAN‘s time to shine and they do so effortlessly, in a storm of anger and defiance with a formidable album that has the songs to back up the righteous venom they spit.
Jon Crowders‘ commanding and rousing vocals bark out the band’s pissed off but hopeful for change lyrics in a formidable manner, while the rest of the band (that consists of Amara Wears, who handles both guitars and drums on the album, and bassist Toby Gibbons) plough out the pounding grooves with ease, creating an awesome wall of noise that certainly gets their message across. Much like the likes of DISCHARGE, CRASS, NAPALM DEATH, SUBHUMANS, ANTI CIMEX and so many more bands that make you think with their message and music (no matter how harsh it is), UTILITARIAN continue that lineage and despite the fact that the topics that they tackle are still sadly relevant today, at least they are trying to do something about it.
Gaslights is an album that will get you completely fired up with the topics it tackles and the brutality it delivers them with. UTILITARIAN are a band that have had enough and won’t stand for it anymore. They stand up for what they believe in and aren’t afraid to make it known and for that they should be lauded. The fact that Gaslights is such a strong album is the icing on a very angry cake.
Rating: 8/10
Gaslights is set for release on April 7th via self-release.
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