{"id":97357,"date":"2024-10-18T09:00:09","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T08:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=97357"},"modified":"2024-10-20T23:43:39","modified_gmt":"2024-10-20T22:43:39","slug":"review-high-vis-guided-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-high-vis-guided-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: High Vis – Guided Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"coverIn some circles, High Vis\u00a0<\/strong>are classed as a hardcore band. However, throughout two albums, they’ve honed in on a sound that carries itself with a punk ethos, partly due to their socio-political commentary and partly their refusal to be pinned down. Album number three, ‘Guided Tour’<\/em>, solidifies their sound, merging together elements of post-punk, Britpop, and shoegaze with the occasional glistening “Madchester” groove.<\/p>\n

‘Guided Tour’<\/em>s\u00a0opening title track shimmers with jangly guitars as a neo-psychedelic swirl wraps around. While Graham Sayle’s\u00a0North Western vocals offer a hint of optimism. It’s a breezy, blissful beginning that doesn’t quite give the album the kickstart it needs. Thankfully,\u00a0‘Drop Me Out’<\/em> soon arrives with a wall of feedback and distortion, injecting their punk spirit alongside some favourable revving Britpop guitar melodies.\u00a0‘Feeling Bless’<\/em> bottles that Britpop sound, pairing it with a simple but effective hook, serving as one of the album’s standout moments.<\/p>\n

The use of washed-out guitars does, at times, become tiresome. For example, ‘Untethered’<\/em>, drifts along with airy guitars and a sturdy bass line as Sayle barks through the melodic cloud produced by his bandmates. It’s countered by energetic moments such as ‘Fill The Gap’<\/em> and\u00a0‘Mob DLA’<\/em>. The former drives forward with melancholy melody and Edward \u201cSki\u201d Harper’s hardened, earthly drums. Whereas ‘Mob DLA’<\/em> brings Sayle’s angst to the forefront, taking at public service cuts and the mental health effects on the communities who suffer from them. He’s complemented by drawn-out, swirling, and grungy guitars.<\/p>\n

‘Mind’s A Lie’\u00a0<\/em>arrives as somewhat of a left turn with its house tempo, chopped vocal sample (from South London vocalist and DJ Ell Murphy) and ringing dream-pop guitars. It’s a jarring but interesting track, yet Graham’s shouts about class, isolation and loneliness, bring cohesiveness to the rest of ‘Guided Tour’<\/em>.<\/p>\n

‘Gone Forever’<\/em> provides one final diatribe as Sayle bites at those being\u00a0 “villainised and despised”<\/em> while living in a world of uncertainty. Ultimately aiming at those who live a privileged life, it’s aided by Jack Muncaster’s rumbling bass, and Martin Macnamara and Rob Hammaren’s mix of ethereal and sharp guitars.<\/p>\n

Although\u00a0‘Guided Tour’<\/em> has a number of strong moments, it does lack a lasting impression. While undoubtedly Graham Sayle leads High Vis’ <\/strong>thought-provoking lyrical charge, he’s backed by a dynamic sound that perhaps too often looks to the past.<\/p>\n