War Brides
Regrets
(Triple Eye Industries)
The Midwest, and more specifically Chicago, are known for their contributions to noise rock. There is the Jesus Lizard and Touch & Go Records, along with Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio. There must be something in the water to produce such notable contributors to the cause. War Brides, who hail from the Windy City, do their best to honor the legacy set forth by their forefathers and mothers. Their newest full length, Regrets, will get ears perked up and paying attention to the caustic din emanating from their amps.
When playing this type of music, some bands just seem like they’re going through the motions. War Brides are definitely not one of those types of bands. Besides being expert players, their disgust is palpable and very real. You can feel it, man.
“Clean” opens the album with an off kilter lurch, where the bass and drums lock into a relentless aggressive groove, while guitarist Grant Craig slathers filth over it and vocalist Tristan Widloe slurs menacingly over the din created by the rest of the band. “Day Drinking” adds some start/stop dynamics, complete with feedback wipeouts, to the mix. “Ode To An Old Man” is twangy, noir rock of the highest order, while “Cubano” takes a more deliberate pace spreading out its dread and disgust over five minutes. “Human Cow” and “Thyme” push the urgency, with the latter tune, being the shortest, punkiest one on the album.
Regrets is one hell of an grimy, yet awesome, ride. It honors the scuzzier sounds of their hometown, while retaining its own identity, making the band stand out from the pack. People who love it loud and weird, will find a lot to enjoy here. And maybe even people who just want something a little different from the standard loud rock, too.
