ALBUM: The Blind Shake 'Fly Right'

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Approaching their garage rock sound head on with a hardcore mentality, The Blind Shake have been in the business of creating volatile anthems for over a decade. Described as “spaghetti-western tinged surf punk” with a “bold garage wail,” the trio’s latest offering sounds like it should be a cataclysmic car crash of influences. What comes out of all that, however, is a tasteful blend aesthetics that craft out something delightfully new.

Instrumental ‘A Clock, A Window, A Pyramid’ is as cataclysmic as it gets. There’s definitely something of a Sergio Leone influence built into the track’s twanging guitars, but as the melody builds to a crescendo of ear-piercing sound, it’s clear that the band haven’t shaken their affinity for creating a ruckus. ‘Holy Road’ mirrors the preceding track’s twanging refrains, fuzzed out vocals dragging the track out of the desert and into distortion. ‘Apes Live A Life’ sees that distortion take over, ferocious riffs swirling and curling around echoingly distorted words.

Sitting in the centre of the record, ‘Diamond Days’ is an instant highlight. With laid back percussion and woozy guitars reminiscent of the likes of Fat White Family, the track is a delectable calm in the midst of a rambunctious storm. Twanging and resounding, the song’s raw production showcases the band at their nonchalant best.

Clocking in at two minutes forty-five seconds, ‘Yellow’ is the longest track on the record. Unabated rhythms drive alongside forceful vocals, building up to squalling guitars and eerie echoes before imploding into silence. Title track ‘Fly Right’ sees the band measure their temperament. Slow and steady, the track’s calculated pace serves to make the impending sound combustion that floods through dissonant vocals and squalling refrains all the more effective.

Barely scraping over the twenty minute mark, Fly Right might not be the most extensive or in depth offering, but it’s certainly one that’ll stick with you, and what more could you ask for?

Fly Right is released on 13th April via The Blind Shake BMI.