As is expected from a vocals, bass and drums trio this album is non-stop riffs. The riffs are huge and strong. Beasts consists of Antoine Romeo on vocals, Tijl Van de Casteele on drums, percussion and backing vocals and François Hantson on hybrid bass guitar. The bass is spread across the stereo spectrum with the bass distortion separated from the fundamental tone and each given their own space. Its huge and beautiful and brutal and awesome. The vocals are delivered with venom and attitude and the drums play with a huge groove.
I love the manifesto. These guys are brave enough to renounce the capitalist system and go purely independent. No streaming- if you want to listen you have to support them by buying the album. This is an idea that I have been considering in my own creative practice, and I wonder whether it will have any effect on how much they earn from music listens in the end. I love that they have the strength of character to follow through and reject the current system.
Throughout there is the inclusion of extra sounds, samples and noise and the song ‘Same Way’ is the first time on the album where there is a decided guitar texture (provided by the hybrid instrument) included as another texture, which is a welcome sonic change up during the tracks.
Stand out track for me is ‘Old Pictures’, it feels delightfully unhinged and really fun, I love it. The band refuse to confirm to any norms and it’s refreshing. I love, love “Let Them Children Play” as well, its wicked build up to brutal riffage is brilliant.
There is a lot to love about this band. I love the sentiment. I love the principles. I love the manifesto. I love the sounds. I love the fact they are a heavy bass lead band. This is an angry, loud, brutal and really fun. Buy it and listen to it. Better yet- go to the album release on 29 May in Rockerill, Charleroi.
You can follow the band on Youtube and see the video for the Shearing .
Review by Mansell Bass
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