Spectres - Dying

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 18 / 1 / 2015

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Review

'Dying' is the debut album by Spectres, who, while they formed in Barnstaple, North Devon, have now relocated to Bristol. They are the rawest band signed to Sonic Cathedral, that's for sure. I do like what they do, but there is little here that hasn't been done before, and, having just heard the new A Place to Bury Strangers album, I found it to be in a similar sort of place. 'Drag' starts off the album in eerie but fine fashion, like the alien blasting out of John Hurt's stomach after a long sleep in 'Alien'. 'Where Flies Sleep' is as sonic driven as early My Bloody Valentine or A Place to Strangers but not so abrasive. If you are new to shoegaze and noise rock, this is, however, as good an introduction as any. 'The Sky of All Places' sounds like a trippy the Wedding Present and is pleasant enough but somewhat tame, although it improves over the length of the track. 'Family' is fairly quiet until it speeds up later on. 'This Purgatory' is more broody and more spaced out, but, in the vein of early Sonic Youth, becomes increasingly noisy. 'Mirror' is over seven minutes long, slow and menacing to start, but becomes much darker, hypnotic and abrasive as it progresses. To me this sounds like a commercial My Bloody Valentine number. 'Sink' is in-the-gut rock and roll, like the Jesus and Mary Chain at their most raw. 'Lump' again is primal and uncompromising. 'Sea of Trees', which clocks in at over nine minutes and closes the album, is well delivered, slowly paced, but with guitars that attack like savage hungry Tigers. This band know how to control their feedback and to use it to their advantage, making this their version of 'Sister Ray'. A fine debut album.

Track Listing:-

1 Drag
2 Where Flies Sleep
3 The Sky of All Places
4 Family
5 This Purgatory
6 Mirror
7 Blood in the Cups
8 Sink
9 Lump
10 Sea of Trees

Band Links:-

https://twitter.com/wearespectres
https://www.facebook.com/spectresvanco

Label Links:-

http://www.soniccathedral.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/soniccathedra
https://twitter.com/soniccathedral
https://www.youtube.com/user/https%3A/