ALBUM REVIEW: Nobody’s Coming To Save You – Gurriers
Irish rockers, GURRIERS, have put out their second record Nobody’s Coming To Save You. The quintet recorded the album between Donegal and London, wanting create something that, on a surface level, appears bleak but having a closer listen you realise is a call to action. A reminder that meaningful change comes from collective action instead of passive expectation, as they put it.
A fact that rings true on the record which sounds like a healthy blend of garage rock, alternative, psychedelic, and noise rock that sets a moody atmosphere. But the songwriting tells a more moving story that you may not catch on your first listen, yet when it clicks it will hit you hard. A truth that’s obvious from the opening title track that opens with a distorted alternative production, droning feedback brought in the background, adding in the cool and collected vocals you’re drawn in and entranced. The lyrics seem to match the moody atmosphere with the reference to having a greyer outlook on life, yet you soon realise how they empower you to make your own change in life.
What’s also interesting with the record is how it goes into many different moods and, at times, genre soundscapes that still carry on their original messaging one way or the other. One moment you can enjoy sounds more fitting in the garage rock meets 90s alternative variety as heard on Pins and I Wish I Was, that both introduce a dreamlike aspect with the latter track feeling like a good sound representation of someone’s mind as they deal with mental health issues and self-doubt carried on with a solid breakdown of distorted instruments. The next moment we can enjoy louder and bouncier numbers as heard on Shades, Nothing Happens Twice, and Party Lines with the latter track seemingly using bongos.
And we were serious about the genre soundscape as heard on the aptly titled Drones which brings in sounds easily associated with the dystopian/sci-fi genre and has you visualising a scenario where someone explores the aftermath of a battle, or disaster, trying to find life. At first, there appears to be nothing, yet life slowly reveals itself. Then we experience a sudden shift into everything loud, and we head into an intense composition.
A solid record for anyone wanting to experience a collective of different sounds and moods yet wanting to feel empowered to find their motivation in life. You can’t really go wrong there, can’t you?
Rating: 8/10
Nobody’s Coming To Save You is out now via Play It Again Sam.
Like GURRIERS on Facebook.