Album Review: Lost in the Riots - Bonds (2019)
Bonds, the new album from London based band Lost in the Riots is the first album I’ve ever received in advance of its release which for me is a big deal. So, upon receipt of an early stream, I was faced with an immediate dichotomy from two battling states of mind: the “I’ve received an album early! I’m a God!” high of being taken seriously followed by the “What if I don’t like it? What if I do like it!? What if I’m wrong!?” low of crippling self doubt.
In my panic I turned to the finely crafted PR statement: “Lost in the Riots channel post rock through a tunnel of hardcore on their ferocious new album”. Post rock? I don’t really know what that is. Hardcore? I am aware of that: it’s known for its ferocity (the PR statement checks out) and its scathing, abrasive vocals (we’ll get to that in a minute).
Despite my worries there was only really one way forward, to you know, listen. So I pressed play on opening track I Was a Fucking Jet Engine and waited. That opening song slowly creeps in from the silence with a fuzz of smoky, static squeals before igniting into a thick, energetic rhythm punctuated by restrained but powerful drumming, screaming, razor wire riffs and piercing laser blasts of lead guitar. Despite its obvious drive and power that “Fucking Jet Engine” takes its time and goes on a journey through a sea of spacious calm and into a rushing, climax full of striking lead guitar lines. It’s very good.
Obviously I was relieved but even still, something was nagging at me. It wasn’t until about halfway through the next track, Lumens, when it dawned on me; there are no vocals. For some reason that bothered me. I’m used to vocals, I even expect them and, despite not really being a lyrics guy, I expect potent lyrics, especially from something described as hardcore. I want an insanity of screams, snarls and howls.
Though, as I listened on through Lumens, I quickly forgot about this lack of a perceived vocal requirement and couldn’t help but enjoy the sheer variety on offer. It opens with a twanging bass rumble before launching into staccato, buzzing riffs and stabbing lead guitars held together by a satisfyingly tough drum sound.
The instrumentation and style of these first tracks remind me of growing up and listening to emerging bands like Hiding With Girls, Days in December and Further Seems Forever. The inherent downside of many of those bands was often the high-pitched and strained vocals so the omission of that particular and often polarising instrument actually works in Lost in the Riots’ favour.
Of course the nostalgia of youth is often candy for the brain and the band throw in sonic references to the creeping dread of nu-metal icons Korn with the ethereal, melodic passages followed by paths of destruction you might expect from the likes of Thursday and Taking Back Sunday combined with the stabbing static of modern hardcore like Code Orange and Ithaca.
There is a great deal of familiarity to be found on Bonds yet Lost in the Riots don’t really sound like any one of these bands and they keep you engaged by mixing things up regularly to stay fresh and interesting.
Chemistry and Collider are full to the brim of frenetic, joyous riffs and upbeat bounce and it’s worth pointing out the level of positivity being released on Bonds (even when things get pretty heavy) which is refreshing from a corner of music that can often be seen as negative, downbeat or depressive.
Lead single TRAPPIST is full of weighty riffs, uplifting guitar solos, crystal clear oceans of sound and some truly mesmerising moments; one of my favourite riffs on the entire album comes in at 1 minute 45 seconds.
Telomeres begins as a haunting lament, eventually progressing into full on post-hardcore via bounding punk rock (or, dare I say it, pop punk) and back to a slow, dreamlike conclusion.
The repeating guitar leads, perpetuating much of LOOPER, which continue to return under slightly different guises never get boring and the stabbing ebb and flow of The Confession Has Meant Nothing gives way to Gold which is essentially an instrumental acoustic ballad. Pretty unexpected.
In Triplicate rocks out in a classic “Dave Grohl presents The Foo Fighters” fashion but title track Bonds throws in some chilling, out of tune noodling and delightfully carefree hand-clapped percussion whilst still not being afraid to throw in some monstrous, screeching riffs.
The final track … (that’s what it’s called, I didn’t forget to fill in the blanks) is almost like an old school secret track with a minute of near silence leading in to a couple of minutes of piano led Sufjan Stevens esque introspection; a quite beautiful way to end the album.
I’m glad I’ve had Bonds for a while because it does take time to fully appreciate. After each listen I’ve found myself picking up on little flourishes I’d missed and regularly choosing a new favourite riff or hook and that’s the sign of a good album.
Lost in the Riots have blown the dust off a number of nostalgically familiar components from rock, nu-metal, punk and hardcore but have packaged them in such an unfamiliar way and alongside enough new ideas that the dust never gets time to settle.
Bonds is out today on Lonely Voyage Records so give it a listen on your favourite streaming platform or pick it up here.
If you like what you hear there’s a launch show at The Shacklewell Arms in London tonight or you can check them out on stage at ArcTanGent 2019 in August . Alternatively for a taster of their live show you can take a look at this clip of them “Live At The Facemelter” from back in 2015.
Peace.
