Remember when guitar riffs were monolithic and distortion was king? With their new self-titled EP, Barrels conjure memories of the decade that saw noise rock milestones like Helmet's "Meantime" (1992) - while clearly taking a look at the state of today's world. And the four musicians from Hamburg are not happy with it - relatable when you look at the worldwide rise of right-wing extremism.
The opener "Wrong Wings" feels like a punch in the guts with its staccato guitars and the pissed-off vocals. The raw and unpolished power is captivating. "Crossed arms" begins with almost Slayer-esque diabolus in musica style guitars and shows the energetic vocals of singer Frederic Klemm, whose label Arctic Rodeo Recordings also publishes this record. Then the mid-section of "The Whisperings Within" almost feel serene with the feedbacky guitars and the rolling drums. At the same time it's not difficult to picture this song as a powerful moment in a sweaty live show. The impelling "Read After Burning" and "Lights Off" complete this handful of songs, and clearly Klemm (Vocals/Guitars), Anselm Klumpp (Guitars), Arne Hollmann (Bass, Vocals / Gallmucke, Miasma) and Lutz Möllmann (Drums / ULMe, Pendikel, Caleya) have achieved a level energy that is staggering. The mix by Jawbox singer and guitarist J. Robbins (Clutch, Against Me!) and Dan Coutant (The Sword, Matt Pond PA) showcases these qualities with force.
The self-titled EP by Barrels was released via Arctic Rodeo Recordings on February 7th. Here's the video for "Read After Burning":
The opener "Wrong Wings" feels like a punch in the guts with its staccato guitars and the pissed-off vocals. The raw and unpolished power is captivating. "Crossed arms" begins with almost Slayer-esque diabolus in musica style guitars and shows the energetic vocals of singer Frederic Klemm, whose label Arctic Rodeo Recordings also publishes this record. Then the mid-section of "The Whisperings Within" almost feel serene with the feedbacky guitars and the rolling drums. At the same time it's not difficult to picture this song as a powerful moment in a sweaty live show. The impelling "Read After Burning" and "Lights Off" complete this handful of songs, and clearly Klemm (Vocals/Guitars), Anselm Klumpp (Guitars), Arne Hollmann (Bass, Vocals / Gallmucke, Miasma) and Lutz Möllmann (Drums / ULMe, Pendikel, Caleya) have achieved a level energy that is staggering. The mix by Jawbox singer and guitarist J. Robbins (Clutch, Against Me!) and Dan Coutant (The Sword, Matt Pond PA) showcases these qualities with force.The self-titled EP by Barrels was released via Arctic Rodeo Recordings on February 7th. Here's the video for "Read After Burning":