JAAW – Supercluster
JAAW – Supercluster
Svart Records
Release Date: 26/05/23
Running Time: 38:00
Review by Rory Bentley
8/10
Not content with putting out one of the finest Melodic Rock records of the year so far with “Hard Cold Fire”, Therapy? frontman Andy Cairns is back barely a month later with the debut record from Industrial Noise-Rock supergroup JAAW. Those expecting the muscular Power-Pop we’ve come to associate with Andy’s day job will have a rude awakening, although Therapy? die-hards will be acutely aware that the band have a broad and eclectic range of influences and are more than capable of getting their hands and guitars dirty when the mood takes them- see the scabrous and criminally underrated “Suicide Pact- You First” for the perfect example.
With sludgy Noise-Rock riffs, cavernous distant vocals and maniacal drumming, opener ‘Thoughts and Prayers (Mean Nothing)’ comes in like a hybrid between Big Black and Downward Spiral-era Nine Inch Nails at their most vicious. Anyone hoping for an easy ride should probably bow out now, because follow-up ‘Reality Crash’ has got some driving Industrial percussion with some of the scuzziest bass I’ve heard in a long time providing a canvas for Cairns to growl and ramble over like a mad bloke on a park bench. The weird thing is it locks into a groove that would be kind of danceable were it not for the feedback-drench guitars screeching like a pterodactyl and a menacing tremolo effect.
After the Prodigy-meets-Godflesh attack of ‘Rot’ where the guitars drone like the pulse of a waking mechanical giant, ‘Total Protonic Reversal’ pulls you into the audio equivalent of a “Saw” film. The bass lurches oppressively as mechanical percussion clangs in the background and slurred unhinged vocals chatter between the speakers like evil voices in your head. It’s impressively horrifying to say the least but the band don’t just deal in atmosphere.
The somewhat perplexingly titled ‘Hellbent on Happiness’ is a raging cyberpunk attack that sounds like Fear Factory covering Minor Threat, or a more beefed-up ‘March of The Pigs’ if you can imagine such a thing. It’s a molten two minute thrill ride of nihilistic fury that arrives towards the album’s latter half and gives a vital shot in the arm to the record’s overall momentum. On the other side of the coin ‘The Dead Drop’ offers a lush, textured Shoegaze approach combined with sinister Massive Attack-worthy beats until the song explodes halfway after ramping up unbearable tension. Even at its most serene this album still wants to commit abhorrent acts of violence on the listener and I am here for it!
Capping everything off with rowdy Drum and Bass and filthy grooves on ‘Army Of Me’, “Supercluster” is a triumphant debut from a group of musicians who are able to revel in the sounds of the past while keeping things fiercely modern sounding. It’s not exactly a feel good sunshine record but if you’re a sick fuck like me that wants something horrible yet still kind of tuneful, then be sure to play it loud as fuck and ruin someone’s barbecue this summer!
‘Total Protonic Reversal’ Official Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. Thoughts and Prayers (Mean Nothing)
02. Reality Crash
03. Rot
04. Total Protonic Reversal
05. Bring Home the Motherlode, Barry
06. Hellbent on Happiness
07. The Dead Drop
08. Army of Me
LINE-UP:
JAAW is a post-industrial supergroup featuring Andy Cairns (Therapy?), Jason Stoll (Mugstar, KLÄMP, Sex Swing), Wayne Adams (Death Pedals, Big Lad, Petbrick) and Adam Betts (Three Trapped Tigers, Goldie, Squarepusher)
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Rory Bentley and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
