[9/10]
After spending the majority of 2013 touring and releasing fantastic EPs, such as Funemployed, the release of the debut album from Brighton punks Gnarwolves was very exciting. However this was only a debut album of sorts, as every track has been released on previous EPs so there was no new material, however some tracks have been rerecorded and remastered to a much higher standard. The album openers ‘Party Jams’ and ‘Decay’, both off Fun Club, just highlight why Gnarwolves are one of the most exciting British bands around at the moment. Fast-paced punk rock, with several vocal exchanges between guitarist Thom and bassist Charlie, has rarely sounded so good as it does on this album. The band combines lyrics blending the lighter side of the life with the bands more thoughtful nature. You don’t need to look further than ‘Tongue Surfer’ to demonstrate their more serious side with lines such as “I’m not the same guy you kissed, I’m a miserable s**t”.
One of the best things about this album is that it has consistency, usually that’s a bad thing, however Gnarnia is unswervingly awesome – there’s not a bad track on it. The album is a perfect blend between the breakneck speed of songs like ‘Reaper’ and the slower, more emotional songs such as ‘Community, Stability, Identity’. It is obvious why Gnarwolves has such a passionate fanbase and have been tipped for big things by pretty much everyone. The only down side of this album is that there is no new music on here, so it’s a glorified reissue, which is a shame. When the band drops their next release then it will be clear to see how the band has evolved over the last 12 months. Overall this album will help create the soundtrack to the best summer of your life. Gnarwolves are on the cusp of something incredible and it will be exciting to see what will happen in the coming years with them.
Words by Sam Taylor
