Borrowed Atlas impressively build-up to the release of their debut album in September.
Borrowed Atlas knowingly describe themselves as the ‘eleventh best sad band in Bristol’.
Yet while there is undoubtedly an accepting melancholy to their offerings, their sadness has been channelled effectively to be more akin to rage.
Take compelling new single End Song. A darkly chiming guitar riff signifies what’s to come, before marauding drums and a terrifying bassline, like an alarm, burrows its way into your temple.
Singer Darren Frost’s (formerly of noise-rockers Spectres) anxious vocals (‘It’s all I see, it’s all I need’) are complemented well by Connie Matthews’ (of Wych Elm) lighter touch on backing vocals.
Despite the tone, End Song bounces deftly before the band come together to create an intense outro. Meanwhile, on the Welsh-spoken DWP, Matthews takes leads with her voice set to an echoing and haunting setting.
Once again, the persistent cymbal time-keeping garners a feeling of dread, a knowing precursor to an explosion of rock music which arrives in the form of gnarly guitars. Think The Horrors with the ambition of My Bloody Valentine.
It’s probably good for neither your psyche nor your soul, but play it loud. Sadness has never sounded so confident.
