Review Summary: Wild party bangers mingled with raw honesty
Gnarwolves never seem to stop playing shows. When one tour ends, they just announce another. Whether it’s a support stint for The Wonder Years, a house party or the main stage at Reading and Leeds Festivals, Gnarwolves will play it. So after years on the road, three rowdy EPs (
Fun Club,
Cru and
Funemployed) and acquiring legions of dedicated fans, it was about time that the Brighton trio released a full-length LP.
Gnarwolves is a record that is more than just ratty skate/pop-punk; it’s a brutally honest account of loss and aimlessness.
That’s not to say that
Gnarwolves doesn’t retain the band’s ballsy party tunes. Crunching power-chords, gruff vocals, hooks and breakneck drumming are all over the record. There’s tales of drinking with your mates to be found on lead single “Smoking Kills” and “Bottle to Bottle”. The album serves itself well into the band’s live shows, which always descend into near-riots. But amidst the chaos that runs throughout the album, there’s a definite sense of sadness. The lyrical content is incredibly frank; “we make a toast to being lonely, cus it’s better than drinking alone” croons vocalist/guitarist Thom on “Boneyard”. It’s a record that is scared of the future and the burdens to come.
In spite of this slightly depressing sentiment, the record is more than just about wallowing in your misery. Whereas their previous EPs were angry and anguished,
Gnarwolves is about acceptance. It’s about doing your best to get by and accepting our responsibilities. It’s what resonates so well with their fans; because in the end, we all have to move on.
Gnarwolves is a gritty but very solid debut album from Gnarwolves. It’s not just the kick up the arse that British punk needs right now; it has character, unpretentious flair and is a genuinely fun album to listen to. But most importantly, it holds out the helping hand that you need. There’s something on here that we’re all able to reflect upon; loveless romance, estranged friendships, ongoing afflictions and so on.
Gnarwolves is the record that will help you back onto your feet and get you through it all.
