KOWLOON WALLED CITY Grievances Review

KOWLOON WALLED CITY

Grievances

Neurot Recordings

Release: 9 October 2015

Kowloon Walled City have progressed past the thicker sludge riffs of their prior outputs. After three years, their new LP, Grievances, reflects a sparser, reticent approach. The stripped down approach of the members, one man, one instrument, one pedal have allowed the writing to expand. Less is more. The somber echoes and tones that vibrate through rusted chords create a stark and chilling atmosphere.

The drums plod along. In between tom bounces and scarce snares, the guitars breathe a chilling mood. The constant weight of loss pulls the listener down. Like a painter telling ore of his story with negative space, the emptiness in between each strum coerces the listener to fill in the gaps with macabre thoughts. The San Francisco band delves and revels into dark portrayals of negative emotions.

The bass is a dirty weapon on the title track. Among cymbal splashes and thin guitars, the bass gives the grit and weight in its rumbling spattering. The vocals are pleas; sounding like wisdom from someone who had to learn the hard way.  The heeding is filtered through grey, broken memories. Callous, the instrumentation builds and unleashes and slithers back again. And again.

 Quoted as saying Grievances is a “bummer” of an album, audiences will be excited to be bummed. The album was recorded live in a large roomed studio. The sweat and exhaustion is evident and adds a layer of tortured recitation. This album is a bold step for KWC and a killer one. The somber sonic frustration and desperate grasps for connection can be felt in each tracks. Each pluck and strum and hit is a reminder of our lives’ isolation.

RIYL: 90’s Dischord, Shellac, Unsane, Drive Like Jehu, Jesu, Conan, Coliseum, Neurosis

KWC bandcamp

inthewalledcity.com