Hailing from the west coast of Canada, Weed have released their 2nd LP called 'Running Back'.
The difficult-to-Google band formed in 2010, and after gaining local momentum in their own continent supported by an increased backing colloquially called The Field Trippers, their debut slipped out in 2013.
Running Back is now unleashed onto a wider, albeit alternative audience in the hope for global domination.
While the band have clearly been listening to a lot of My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus And Mary Chain, their wall of sound and distortion kicks off with the fabulously woozy 'Muscles', all oscillating guitars, off kilter vocals and urgent percussion.
'Stay in the summer' continues the trend, again with the distinctive sound of the guitar sounding like it's going out of tune mid chord. Album highlight for me is 'Meet Me with Ease', a slightly more straightforward rock song, with massive drums and chiming guitars.
Sixth track 'Puncture' starts with a screaming vocal, before again the band kick on into the all-enveloping wall of sound. You wonder if this is a deliberate reaction after listening to the relentless onslaught from side one.
Final cut 'They Don’t Ask Me' closes the album, and is also the longest track on the record at five and a half minutes long. Dinosaur Jr springs to mind on this track, which for fans of the band is by no means a bad thing.
At just over 35 minutes long, the ten track album never outstays its welcome and despite the wall of sound (and undoubted volume it is designed to be played at), there are also moments of subtlety and reverence.
OK, it's unlikely you will be humming or singing along to the album after listening to it, but after a few headphones listens, I found myself increasingly exhilarated by the effect and wanting to experience the live act. I’m sure UK fans of the aforementioned influences will embrace Weed with open arms.
7/11
Keith @kjsmith4082
