Julian Casablancas + Voidz debut album wants you to turn the volume up and listen carefully.
Going from being the frontman of one of the most popular indie rock bands of this generation, to fronting a whole new band Casablancas’ move is ambitious, although his new LP Tyranny anything but ostentatious.
Introducing Voidz: Jeramy Gritter (guitar), Amir Yaghmai (guitar), Jacob Vercobici (bass/synths), Alex Carapetis (drums) and Jeff Kite (keyboard). These are grungy, abrasive rockers not worried about what the world thinks of them and The Strokes’ frontman is buckled in for the ride.
The opening track, ‘Take Me In Your Army’ is a disturbing little number that sets the tone brilliantly for the uncertainty that follows. “This is not for everybody, this is for nobody,” Casablancas declares with brutal honesty.
Right away, Casablancas makes it clear that the remaining 61 minutes will be unlike anything the 36-year old has released before.
‘Human Sadness’ is an 11-minute long roller coaster – co-written by Carapetis and Casablancas which samples the frontman’s varied vocals, delivered with gusto that has sorely been lacking in The Strokes’ two most recent releases, Angles and Comedown Machine.
Firstly, Casablancas’ solo endeavour seems to be a whole new ball game. This is typified by ‘Where No Eagles Fly’ – a distorted tutorial through Casablancas’s unending myriad of creativity. His bellowing vocals strangely proclaim “Meat, predators eat meat,” from which a large amount of hostility can be sensed.
‘Father Electricity’ showcases the brilliant percussion that is present throughout Tyranny, giving the listener very little time to catch their breath.
Even within the chaos, ‘Johan Von Bronx’ provides a subtle melody and beautifully layered riffs. Somehow it just works, and while the distortion that hovers over most of the LP gives the impression that production values weren’t particularly important, this track demonstrates the exact opposite.
[include_post id=”211580″]
Another hugely catchy and frantic facet of Tyranny comes in the form of ‘Business Dog’, before the pace slows to a crawl with the darker sound of ‘Xerox’. Casablancas’s vocals hauntingly reveal his inner-most fears: “Will the sky open up, and destroy everyone I’ve loved?” aided by Kite’s high notes on the keys.
‘Off To War’ acts as a diminuendo, ending the release with the thought that there’s much more on the horizon from Casablancas’s irreverently referred “side project.”
The energy the band puts into each song draws listeners in – complimented by Casablancas’s undoubted skill as a storyteller. The musical world should rightly salivate at the creative return of the man who once saved rock n’ roll.
The energy the band puts into each song draws listeners in – complimented by Casablancas’s undoubted skill as a storyteller. The musical world should rightly salivate at the creative return of the man who once saved rock n’ roll.
Tyranny is out now via Inertia www.inertia-music.com
