Trevor’s Head – A View From Below
Trevor’s Head – A View From Below
APF Records
Release Date: 05/05/23
Running Time: 36:51
Review by Laura Barnes
9/10
The music world is rife with fads and trends. What is popular today may be cringe by tomorrow, and entire scenes can disappear overnight. Tell me, when was the last time you met someone who proudly admitted they were in a pop-punk band? Exactly. And yet, as the music industry becomes increasingly fickle and precarious, there is one group of people that have stood firm against the tumultuous storm, one group that survives against all odds: stoners.
Stoner rock and stoner metal are thriving right now. All it takes is a quick listen to the latest Clutch album to realise just how steadfast and relevant the genre remains. But why is that? What is it about this type of music that prevents it from ever getting stale? Of course, music is subjective and there is no undisputable answer, but I do have a theory: stoner metal is not one genre, but the best bits of a million genres smashed together. With Stoner Metal, you can do whatever you want, so long as your guitars are sludgy and your volume is loud.
Trevor’s Head have fully embraced this philosophy. The trio’s fourth release, “A View From Below” is so jam-packed with ideas, energy and riffage that you’d be hard pressed to find a rock fan that doesn’t enjoy this – if you can, I’ll eat my hat (always wanted to use that phrase!). There’s a little something for everyone on this release, whether you’re into prime-time radio rock or the more atmospheric, progressive leanings of bands like Tool. In fact, second track ‘Under My Skin’ manages to combine both of these seemingly at-odds vibes with surprising success. Frenetic, tension filled verses meet a fist-pumping chorus during this stress-fuelled anthem, conjuring images of someone tearing their skin off in frustration. This is followed up by the punk-ish ‘Grape Fang’, which balances out its unfettered aggression with a Foo Fighters-esque bounce. And who doesn’t love a bit of Foo Fighters?
The more progressive elements of Trevor’s Head are brought to the fore on ‘Elio’ and ‘What Got Stuck’. ‘Elio’ is both the longest and slowest track on the album, opting for a more atmospheric approach with folky violins, swirling guitars, and powerful vocal harmonies. This song sees Trevor’s Head’s multi-vocalist approach really pay off, with each member of the band striking a different emotional note. By contrast, ‘What Got Stuck’ is a heavily guitar-led track, strings wailing as they guide you through an erupting soundscape. If you listen really closely, you may even hear faint echoes of System of a Down. Despite their differences, both songs make you want to lie back and stare at the shapes dancing on your ceiling. Meanwhile ‘A True Gentleman’ paints its influences on a banner and waves it about with reckless abandon. The main riff sounds suspiciously similar to Metallica’s ‘Jump In The Fire’, but since there is no attempt to bury the riff under the vocals or drums, and the verses take the same fast and furious approach that thrash does, I think it’s pretty obvious that this is a homage rather than a rip-off.
It’s rare to find an album that strikes such a careful balance between passion and professionalism, but Trevor’s Head seem to manage it just fine. Risk-taking yet consistent, catchy yet progressive, “A View From Below” is the work of musical scholars who know their rock history, and know exactly what makes their listeners tick. One of the most solid releases of this year so far!
TRACKLISTING:
01. Call of the Deep
02. Under My Skin
03. Grape Fang
04. Elio
05. Rumspringa
06. What Got Stuck
07. A True Gentleman
08. Don’t Make Me Ask
LINE-UP:
Aaron Strachan – Bass, Synth, Vocals
Roger Atkins – Guitar, Vocals
Matt Ainsworth – Drums, Synth, Flute, Vocals
LINKS:
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