ALBUM REVIEW: A View From Below – Trevor’s Head

Surrey power trio TREVOR’S HEAD straddle the space between stoner, punk and prog, serving up a concoction of chunky riffs and eclectic musical influences, presented with directness and a degree of heaviness. Their fourth studio offering A View From Below sees them distil this diverse sound into a cohesive collection of eight new songs.

Opener Call Of The Deep kicks things off energetically, with a delightfully fuzzy riff and a chorus that sounds at one point as an interpolation of SLIPKNOT’s Duality through a desert rock filter. Their eclectic side is revealed in Under My Skin which starts off as a more standard stoner rock fare with a bouncy triplet rhythm, but evolves through a dissonant interlude in 7/8 and incorporates a glorious dual vocal bridge in which one of the voices could pass off as a more than capable Maynard James Keenan impression. On the subject of singing, all three members provide vocals on the record. The variety of timbres and vocal delivery styles – singing, yelling, shouting – brings an interesting dimension to their sound, as evident in the ALICE IN CHAINS-esque verse harmony in the grungy Grape Fang. 

Being a power trio that isn’t overly reliant on overdubs leaves little place to hide instrumentally. In this one Aaron Strachan’s bass is the star of the show, as he simultaneously grounds the music with a solid spine, and adds flourishes to go beyond just following the rhythm guitar. Guitarist Roger Atkins and drummer Matt Ainsworth deliver confident performances alongside, but a bit more production value could have helped them shine brighter, as louder moments end up sounding somewhat boxy, lacking a touch of needed punch and clarity. 

By comparison, TREVOR’S HEAD sound at their best when the music is left space to breathe. A prime exhibit is Elio which brings a lighter touch with a spacey ambient atmosphere and the sounds of violin and flute. Equal parts doomy and beautiful, it more than earns its runtime of over seven minutes. After that, the second half of the record loses a bit of steam until the closer Don’t Make Me Ask which comes through as the best song. A dreamy stoner-prog banger that would sit comfortably on a MASTODON album, it balances complexity and catchiness and probably best encapsulates the Redhill band’s strengths.

Despite some imperfections, A View From Below is an enjoyable and engaging listen and will offer plenty to catch the ear of any listener of a proggy/stoner persuasion.

Rating: 6/10

A View From Below is out now via APF Records.

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