ALBUM REVIEW: This Is What A Winner Looks Like – Godsticks

Welsh progressive rockers GODSTICKS have been edging ever closer to the precipice of greatness for a substantial time now, never seeming to break through that glass ceiling. They fell victim to the pandemic as the release of Inescapable couldn’t be fully promoted or appreciated but they’re hoping their new effort This Is What A Winner Looks Like which is out now via Kscope will allow them to get the ball rolling once again.

If I Don’t Take It All bursts into a sea of colour and vibrancy with sharp immediacy. Intricate riff work provides a distinct unpredictability whilst the melodic vocal sequences add some balance to proceedings. Eliminate And Repair dips you into an immersive, dramatic soundscape that ebbs and flows in numerous directions. Plentiful hooks and enticing drum beats bring another dynamic element to the table. This Is My New Normal injects some pace into proceedings with swift, proficient instrumentation. The darker moods and tones utilised further hit home the intended narrative.

Devotion Made To Offend chooses a more minimalist structure in the early going, allowing each note to bask in its moment of prominence. The momentum does begin to build as it progresses. The meticulous layering of both vocal lines and guitar sections helps elevate this piece to the next level. Silent Saw takes a synth-infused approach. Graceful melodies subtly float through your ear canals. Throne opts for down and dirty distortion and hefty grooves. Soaring chorus lines break through the energetic heaviness.

Don’t Say A Word To Me dials up the rhythmic eccentricity, throwing copious curveballs in your direction. Transitioning through many forms, the track keeps you guessing, particularly in the closing stages as you encounter scintillating lead work. Mayhem follows suit with another monstrous round of intensity. Think ALTER BRIDGE but slightly more unhinged – very eye-catching indeed and the ideal candidate for a lead single. Lying returns to the realms of the less frenzied, with soothing, clean tones. Wake Up injects one last shot of adrenaline into the mix as swift drum and riff patterns collide.

GODSTICKS have fully harnessed the ability to blend alluring melodies and crunchy riffing to great effect, never allowing one to overpower the other. This Is What A Winner Looks Like is packed full of soul, character and ingenuity that makes this release a joy to experience. Hopefully this will be the long overdue boost they need to help push them into the spotlight instead of criminally flying under the radar.

Rating: 8/10

This Is What A Winner Looks Like is out now on May 26th via Kscope.

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