Gnarwolves
Outsiders


4.0
excellent

Review

by jesper STAFF
May 8th, 2017 | 12 replies


Release Date: 2017 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Fuck your party, I'm sleeping in.

English kids Gnarwolves have been pumping out raw, two minute punk anthems since 2011. After the release of several well-received EPs and one full length album, the band took some time off. Judging the book by its cover, new record ‘Outsiders’ is very different from previous releases. The cover art is ‘pretty’ instead of ‘fun’ and half of the songs pass the three minute mark.

Opener ‘Straitjacket’ is a typical Gnarwolves song. Overflowing with energy, the track is quick, catchy and perfect to get a crowd moving at live shows. Like most of the record, the song feels more restricted than older Gnarwolves material, in the best way possible. Throughout ‘Outsiders’, the band knows when to hold back and let the music breathe. ‘Talking to Your Ghost’ is the best example of this, using Gnarwolves’ newfound sense of dynamics to create a slower, grungy track. Thankfully, ‘The Comedown Song’ shows that the band has not lost their ability to write quick, aggressive punk anthems. The track features the lines ‘*** your party, I’m sleeping in’, indicating a surprising lyrical shift for Gnarwolves. On previous releases the only things on the punks’ minds seemed to be drinking, smoking and partying, whereas ‘Outsiders’ has a way more serious tone. Vocalist Thom Weeks focuses on tackling his own self doubt for most of the record. While definitely not new or original, Weeks’ lyricism feels genuine. Despite being the catchiest, most upbeat track on the record, ‘Wires’ shows Gnarwolves’ bleakest side: ‘I slept for days, but I didn’t dream. I’ll walk the wire, the balance beam’.

While there are no obvious problems to be found on ‘Outsiders’, the record can feel a bit monotonous at times. There is enough variety, but the simplistic instrumentation might bore some listeners. Thankfully, Weeks’ vocal delivery is genuine and convincing enough to keep the album interesting for the full 33 minutes. The melodies truly shine due to clean, yet not too polished production. 7-minute (!) closer ‘Shut Up’ perfectly sums up the album: it’s honest, catchy punk that is sure to create steaming pits at shows in basements, despite being more restricted and ‘mature’ than before.



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user ratings (30)
3.4
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
JesperL
Staff Reviewer
May 8th 2017


5664 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

saw them live a couple of days before this was released, new songs go hard live.

hope this is an ok review, constructive criticism v welcome!

Conmaniac
May 8th 2017


27704 Comments


yeah its an ok review. loved Cru, will check this

JesperL
Staff Reviewer
May 8th 2017


5664 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

thanks.

tbh I'm not sure how most fans of their older material will like this. it's definitely still gnarwolves, just a lot more serious.

OllieS
May 8th 2017


2280 Comments


Great review. I enjoyed reading it. Only really liked the tune 'Melody Has Big Plans' by these guys (which I love), but I'll check this out.

Soupy
May 8th 2017


46 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Not as keen as I was on the debut album tbh. Imagine these songs will still be good live though.

Asdfp277
May 8th 2017


24791 Comments


knaw their wolves

Conmaniac
May 9th 2017


27704 Comments


yeah this is sounding worse than the wolves I remembered

schoonda
May 9th 2017


1842 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

i mean it still sounds the same band, but theres a lack of variety overall. Wires is reallllllly good though. Straitjacket is a good cut too, I can see why they were the singles.

Danred97
May 10th 2017


2544 Comments


This album is fighting for my AOTY right now. I'm just such a sucker for this snot nosed youthful punk sound.

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
June 22nd 2017


6175 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This still rocks.

Danred97
June 22nd 2017


2544 Comments


Yep, it's so much fun.

DurzoBlint
June 26th 2017


1396 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

I agree with schoonda. Some tracks were cool but half of them were not remotely interesting



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