BRUTALISM
Balley Records
Punk, Post-Punk, Noise Rock.
Listening Format: CD & Vinyl.
Punk officially had its 40th birthday in 2016, and with political turmoil overshadowing the globe, awareness of Punk and Hardcore music seems to be at an all time high. It's a great time for already existing Punk bands to feel fired up again, as well as for new ones to catch a flame. Whilst not all new UK Punk bands trying to recapture that spirit have turned out great (Slaves?), some bands have really gone all out and genuinely brought their genuine agro A-game (Savages!)
Idles have pretty much come out of nowhere this year. The Bristol based band seemed to have taken their fate into their own hands, with that special DIY attitude. This debut full length 'Brutalism' bears a 001 catalogue number on what I can only assume is their own Balley Records. And yet the album has landed itself in record stores across the country, and is getting all the right press. Idles have done extremely well for themselves to smash their way into modern music's consciousness.
'Brutalism' from start to finish is an absolute riot. After an ominous sample and a Post Punk as fuck drum intro, 'Heel / Heal' bursts into life with frantic power chord guitars, and sheets of noisy agonising guitars that want to fight you. This is topped off by the snarling, manic screams of vocalist Joe Talbot. In terms of musicianship, whilst not reinventing the wheel, Idles come racing out ready for a punch up, with so much fiery passion and precision playing. The scatty washes of noisy tremolo guitar even channel Big Black. 'Well Done' is a huge standout that is just do direct and in your face. If it was made in 1977 it would have surely been a classic. Instantly they channel The Clash's 'White Riot' or Stiff Little Fingers' 'Suspect Device'. Joe Talbot's vocals are acidic as he spews out nonsense lines "Mary Berry love Reggae, so why don't you like Reggae? / Trevor Nelson loves football, so why don't you watch football?" A cheeky "woo woo" backing vocal gives it such a live and raw feel. 'Mother' is equally as exquisite, full of anger and storming riffs, with a chorus that simply sees Talbot yell "MOTHERFUCKER", as well as the brilliant quotable, "The best way to scare a Tory is to read and get rich". 'Divide & Conquer' is another huge track that manages to slow the tempo down to this pounding stomp as noisy guitars drill their way into your brain. The precision playing also shines on the album's shortest and fastest track 'Stendhal Syndrome', which is overwhelming in the amount of venom it spits at the listener. And the nearly unlisted track 'White Privilege' (just shown as a white line on the album packaging) is full of agro, boasting the hilarious opening line "How many optimists does it take to change a lightbulb / NONE, their butler changes the lightbulb". Such absurd lyrics could come off a little corny, if it wasn't for the dead pan, no bullshit delivery of these lines. The socio-political undertones are used at just the right moments.
Idles have ultimately floored me. 'Brutalism' is an album so direct, so honest, so raw. I can honestly see original Punk fans who were there from the start loving this album. I can see the Post Punk fans who dug PIL and Wire loving this album. I can see fans of Noise Rock like Shellac, The Fall, McLusky and Sonic Youth loving this album. Because it is rare these days to hear such a genuine Punk sound. Idles don't attempt to play Punk. They ARE Punk. They embody it through blood, bone and brawn. Everything about 'Brutalism', from the sound, the production, the songs, the riffs, the lyrics, the energy, the approach, the packaging, the label, the marketing... Idles have absolutely fucking nailed it. I think in terms for what is presented inside the box, this is gold. Here is hoping for some mad, outside of the box follow up! 8/10.
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