Review Summary: Since when did shoe-gaze get this good?
Boyfrndz are a three piece experimental rock band hailing from Austin, TX. Their debut self-titled EP is a noisy and energetic breath of fresh air. The EP goes balls deep right out of the gates with Ghost Hits, a track filled with unconventional drum beats and fills reminiscent of Zach Hill’s solo work as well as his endeavors with Hella. This style of drumming is a little disorienting at first, but interacts well with the rest of the instruments. The layered guitar riffs come in loud and raw, yet not too intrusive. As one might expect from an experimental rock outfit the progressions and solos will rhythmically catch you off guard and surprise you. Despite this, they do not feel forced or intentionally prog for the sake of making weird music as some experimental bands seem to. The bass is a big presence in the overall sound despite the often-layered guitar parts and fill the space very well. The bass lines keep the drum parts and guitar riffs grounded while bringing the whole EP together as a kind of controlled chaos. The vocals are a bit of an after-thought on first listen as the lyrics are not very distinguishable and they are mixed, at times, to sound as if the vocalist is in the next room. Despite the vocals not being at the forefront of the production, they play a very big role in Boyfrndz’s sound. The singing style primarily uses drawn out words to form the choruses, which are similar to that of Local Natives. After a first few listens the lyrics become less cryptic and they begin to shine as well. The end result is a very catchy and upbeat sound that will keep you wanting more. The closing track Hook, Line, & Sinker seems to end just as abruptly as the EP began, but is a fitting send off. The EP is a great start to a hopefully long and bright future for the up and coming experimental rockers.
The EP is available for name your price download at their bandcamp page:
http://boyfrndz.bandcamp.com/album/boyfrndz
