Monday 7 May 2018

Noisepicker- Peace Off (Album Review)


Release date: May 01st 2018. Label: Exile On Mainstream. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Peace Off – Tracklisting

1.No Man Lies Blameless 03:37
2.So You're Sick? 03:05
3.A Taste Of My Dying 03:03
4.He Knew It Would All End In Tears 03:56
5.O What Mercy Sorrow Brings 03:16
6.I Hear You Talking And It Sounds Like Bullshit To Me 04:31
7.This Is How The World Will End 04:28
8.Burning The Witch 03:25
9.All Hope Died 05:20
10.I Stood By Her Grave 04:45

Members

Harry Armstrong - Guitars/Vocals
Kieran Murphy - Drums

Review

Noisepicker is the new band featuring Harry Armstrong from bands such as End of Level Boss, Hangnail and The Earl Of Mars. Harry has teamed up with Kieran Murphy on drums for this album. Their debut album Peace Off is one of the most fun sounding debut albums I’ve heard this year.

Noisepicker play a demented style of Doom, Punk, Blues Rock and good old fashioned Rock and Roll. There is a few elements of Psychedelic Rock, Prog Rock and Stoner Rock running throughout the course of the entire album. Though Noisepicker really excel playing their stripped down Doom/Blues/Punk Rock sound. The album has a vintage feel to it and it’s very lo-fi at times. This is part of the album’s overall charm with the opening tracks – No Man Lies Blameless, So You’re Sick, and A Taste of Dying – creating quite a bleak atmosphere but in a very demonic playful way.

It’s good to hear Harry’s vocals in the Doom Rock/Metal landscape. As it’s been a while since he performed this style of music. Harry always excels performing the more out there Doom Rock/Metal vocals especially with End Of Level Boss. Though with Noisepicker he’s heavily influenced by the Blues Rock scene and it allows the band to create some heavy emotional vibes with A Taste Of Dying containing some very cool heartfelt lyrics. The music is still heavy with Noisepicker creating a more classic 70s sounding atmosphere.

I’m going to say the real star of the show is Kieran Murphy on drums. As he’s fucking ferocious on this album. Precise, loud and heavy from the start. This allows Harry to focus on playing the heavy doomed out and almost garage rock sounds.

The production is another highlight with Noisepicker staying dramatically loud from the start.

Other great songs on the album are: O What Mercy Sorrow Brings, I Hear You Talking and It Sounds Like Bullshit To Me, Burning The Witch and I Stood By Her Grave.

As you can see from the album titles, Noisepicker create bleak song titles to go with the gloomy atmosphere on the album. Though that doesn’t stop Noisepicker creating such a fantastic and action packed album. This is good old-fashioned rock and roll. You can’t deny that Peace Off is a genuine crowd-pleaser of an album.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Lauren at Rarely Unable PR for the promo. Peace Off is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Exile On Mainstream.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp