In today’s interconnected world, music transcends borders – Jay Wud crowdfunded their new album ‘Transitions’ online and hail from four different countries. Whilst popular in their Dubai base, they’re aiming for global appeal with their commercial, metal-tinged hard rock.
‘Shine Your Light’ begins with minimal guitar work but dense guitars and Joe Rickard’s rapid drumming soon kick in. Imploring “Shine your light down… don’t fade away”, it’s an uplifting tribute to those who’ve passed. Vocalist Jay Wud’s emotive guitar solo steals the attention, leading nicely into follow-up ‘Juggernaut’.
Remaining true to its namesake, ‘Juggernaut’ opens with distorted, chugging guitars. It settles into a pattern of minimal verses and a deliberate, strong chorus – contrasting the protagonist’s impassive behaviour (“Avoid, distract. Deploy, retract”) with their resilience and power (“You take the fall. Like a juggernaut through it all”).
While it’s unclear whether ‘Empire’ refers to literal governance, Wud’s steely vocals and derisive lyrics evoke current political unrest: “Rise up, deny and break this fucked up state.” It’s a forceful track with the potential to be a crowd-pleaser: a soaring chorus, military-style breakdown, screaming guitar solo, chantable phrases (“Thieves, fucking thieves”). Overall, it’s slightly cheesy but difficult to dislike.
‘Killing My Own’ is similarly powerful, considering the conflict bordering Wud’s home country Lebanon: “People fighting someone else’s war, they’re killing my own.” Wud’s voice is strong and melodic, with the rough-edged gritty tone borne by vocalists from M. Shadows to Dave Grohl.
The album tackles depression in the irrepressible ‘Low’ and haunting ‘Melancholia’. The former’s big, simple-yet-effective chorus suggests arena-scale ambitions; ‘Melancholia’ is unsurprisingly dark but pairs desolate imagery with a riff so catchy it should be inauthentic.
Jay Wud pair the grit and backbone to please most hard-rock fans with the commercial appeal to fill large venues. It’s confusing at times – ‘Transitions’’ instrumental tracks showcase Wud’s considerable talent but sit oddly amongst its heavy-hitters. Unique with a polished sound, Jay Wud nevertheless face a challenge competing on the global stage.
3/5
‘Transitions’ by Jay Wud is out now.
Jay Wud links: Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|Website
Words by Clare O’Shea (@Clare_OShea)
