Think you know what a group featuring members of The Hope Conspiracy, American Nightmare and The Explosion would sound like? Think again.
Sure, there’s aggression buried within Holy Fever’s ‘The Wreckage’; an understated, well-shielded fire still burns, and there’s an edge that harks back to these hardcore roots. But it’s an edge that has been tempered – as if age and experience has focused the rage.
Yet ‘The Wreckage’ is not a hardcore album – it’s not even close. It’s a straight-up rock’n’roll bulldozer, influenced by indie-rock, garage rock and soul. And it’s bloody great stuff. No doubt some of this is to do with the inclusion of The Beginners’ Samantha Barbera, drawing on her indie-rock experience to lighten the tone, but it means ‘The Wreckage’ packs a punch and makes you want to move your feet.
Take for example the outstanding ‘Someday’, which sounds like early Saturday Looks Good To Me mid 16-hour champagne and amphetamine bender; poppy and preppy but rough and ragged, turned up to 11 and played so fast it sounds like a race to the bar. Elsewhere, the rumbling ‘Border Blind’ and opening blast ‘Duress’ come off like some sort of Bronx/The Hives hybrid – accessible and contagious, but with enough clout to leave you in no doubt about Holy Fever’s intentions.
‘Separate The Night’, meanwhile, drops the pace and pushes forward the melody. It’s a glorious moment, as Barbera and Todd Cooper’s duelling vocals battle for your attention – and it’s tough to pick a winner. Likewise, ‘Many Roads To Follow’ is a massive sing-along, yet is very much an off-kilter, Volcano, I’m Still Excited!!-style choral workout.
It all means ‘The Wreckage’ is something of a foot-tapping, head-nodding triumph. Well-constructed, perfectly performed and with just enough raw aggression to make songs like ‘Heart of Gold’ and ‘The Failure Card’ pit-friendly sing-alongs. It’s the rare sort of album that could find a home in numerous different scenes – with each claiming Holy Fever as their own.
4.5/5
‘The Wreckage’ by Holy Fever is out now.
Holy Fever links: Facebook|Twitter
Words by Rob Mair (@BobNightMair)
