Tenebrous Liar - Tenebrous Liar's Last Stand
by Anthony Middleton
published: 8 / 11 / 2008

Label:
Tenor Vossa
Format: CD
intro
Discordant and grinding second album from Tenebrous Liar, the project of music photographer Steve Gullick, which while cacophinic and often grim in sound, proves not totally without worth
The first song on this sets the tone. A guitar gnaws away at you like toothache. There is so much echo and reverb that you fear the speakers could vibrate across the floor and then come the vocals. A dour, flat, intonation that is largely indecipherable, but you get the idea that the subjects are not sugar and spice and all things nice. No, this is a Dark album, by a Dark band. At first I thought it was an awful album by a dreadful band, but, being selfless in the name of music criticism, I listened to it again. And it grew on me. Tenebrous (in case your wondering: adj, dark, murky or obscured by shadows) Liar are the pet, vanity or otherwise, project of music photographer Steve Gullick who has been at the forefront of promoting underground music for years. To make the leap from being an acclaimed observer of musicians to joining them is a brave decision and one that could back fire. The only other example I can think of is the Pet Shop Boys. The band are supporting Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at the end of November in London. Perhaps fond memories of the cacophony of the Birthday Party prompted the invitation and it must have been welcome as Cave is obviously a major influence. The more accomplished moments here would be worthy of Grinderman. 'One Last Time', a more melodic moment, and 'Hunch' are reminiscent of early Bad Seeds. Apparently recorded in thirteen hours (what they did in the other 12 hours escapes me…) Tenebrous Liar’s Last Stand grinds, howls and wails. And that’s just the guitars, of which there seems to be quite a few; all played with the finesse you would normally reserve for an angle grinder. There is, to put it charitably, a pattern to the songs. The focus is always the guitar work, which is always louche, certainly never intricate, though brought to the edge of self indulgence by the obsessive use of distortion effects which can, as in the case of the album’s final two songs ('Tenebrous Liar' and, er, 'Last Stand') sound like a symphony of power tools being seriously misused. The only instrumental, 'Sour', is one of the few times the group break into a canter when they are freed from the leaden vocals. Gullick is restrained in his singing, staying within a safe range and probably happy to let the music do the work. 'On Last Stand', he obviously this wouldn’t wash and attempts to compete with the chorus of guitars with visceral, guttural bawl. He loses, but the attempt is gallant. After probably the longest silent pause during a song, the guitars are given free reign and the descent into total feedback, distortion oblivion is complete. Tenebrous Liar feels more like a project than a band; the motifs and mood being contrived rather than heartfelt. There are truly dreadful moments such as 'Doomed', but there are also gems so rough you could cut yourself. This is a raw, earthy growling wreck of an album and while you have to look, you feel a bit dirty afterwards.
Track Listing:-
1 Blood Moon2 Pretender
3 One Last Time
4 Hunch
5 Doomed
6 Sour
7 All That You Know
8 Alight
9 One Way Lane
10 Tenebrous Liars
11 Last Stand
Band Links:-
http://www.tenebrousliar.com/http://tenebrousliar.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TenebrousLIARband
Label Links:-
http://www.tenorvossa.co.uk/
live reviews |
Academy, Manchester, 10/10/2008 |
![]() |
Despite recent line up changes and an ill received second album, Aaron Brown finds that Brazilian electro clash band CSS have lost none of their on stage magic at a show at the Academy in Manchester |
soundcloud
reviews |
End of the Road (2012) |
![]() |
Overwhelmingly nihilistic and brutal, but strangely riveting seventh album from hardcore act Tenebrous Liar, the band of acclaimed rock photographer Steve Gullick |
most viewed articles
current edition
Spear Of Destiny - InterviewRobert Forster - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Pistol Daisys - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Nils Petter Molvaer - El Molino, Barcelona, 24/4/2025
Credits - ARC, Liverpool, 17/5.2025
Gary Numan - Berserker
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleGarbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Little Simz - Lotus
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Vinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
HAIM - I Quit
Eddie Chacon - Lay Low
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart