Guttercats – ‘Rise And Fall Of The Last Civilization’ (Lucinda Records, Spain / Wishing Well Records, France)

Guttercats – ‘Rise And Fall Of The Last Civilization’ (Lucinda Records, Spain / Wishing Well Records, France)

Formed on the streets of Paris back in 2007 Guttercats released their debut album in 2009 fast forward to 2025 and the apocalyptic ‘Rise And Fall’ kicks off with the semi-acoustic spaghetti western rock n roller and title track that wheezes into town before kicking on down the line with an uptempo middle eight before gently coming to a stand still in fine fashion with Guts warm and engaging tones as he sets the tone for whats to come.

Mixing classic Jacobites, Sudden, Kusworth, Gun Club and a whole wealth of other influences Guttercats ooze quality and style with a gentle swagger and some well-worn rock n roll slippers dragging their Cuban heels as the ‘Aliens Are Back’ mixes in some Bowie and Reid for good measure. The arrangments are well considered and recorded perfectly Guttercats have a swagger and air of confidence with their music and their use of violins, acoustic and electric guitars is exquisite and songs like ‘Lament In The Night’ have quality and class pouring out of them at every verse and chorus.

The piano-driven ‘Everything I Touch’ will have you leaning into the speakers hanging off every gothic word as the violins add another flavour whilst the rockier ‘Beautiful Curse’ has touches of Bauhaus in their pomp and the solo is wonderfully crafted.

‘All Fall Down’ sees the band charge it up before a smooth and romantic ‘If You Love Me’ swoons with its wheezing organ for a real highlight on an already excellent record. Guttercats have exceeded expectations here with a mature and grande record that meanders lifts and falls with style and some excellent songs.

The album closes with the acoustic rocker ‘Wishing On A World’ that fills the void left by some quality old school and sadly long gone rockers evoking images of Kusworth and Sudden and Sylvain and Thunders all giving it a standing ovation while Bowie nods approvingly. It is a thoroughly enjoyable album from a band who’ve got better with each album and matured like a fine French Wine mixing uptempo rock and roll with more laid-back darker balladeering and they do it with a unique style that draws you in and calls you back for more. Dim the lights and let Guttercats take the strain with one of the finest albums so far in 2025. Buy It!

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Author: Dom Daley

Guttercats – ‘Eternal Life’ (Take The City Records (Spain), Sweet Grooves Records (Spain) & Wishing Well Records (France))

Guttercats – ‘Eternal Life’ (Take The City Records (Spain), Sweet Grooves Records (Spain) & Wishing Well Records (France))

Parisian Rock and Rollers Guttercats continue on their pursuit of the Rock and Roll dream of making music they clearly love and live.

Constantly gigging in France, Guttercats released their first album “Pandora’s Box” in 2009. They took their laid-back Stonesy, Thunders gypsy-like tones around Europe living it as they played it – carefree and doing just what they wanted like fellow soul mates Kusworth, Sudden and Honest John Plain who they shared the road with. through France, Spain, Germany & Belgium.

‘Eternal Life’ was recorded in Paris & continues in the band’s vein of acoustic and electric Rock and Roll lovely dreamy balladeering and from the heart Rock n Roll.  The opener ‘Wild Animal’ begins with some atmospheric slide layered guitar fading in and out over some gentle acoustic guitars as the song builds as it ebbs and flows. adding more textures with various strings its got a cool feel to it.  

 

It’s fair to say the band stick to the mantra of if it’s not broken don’t fix it and plow on just writing songs they trust will carry them forwards.  The more uptempo and traditional rocker of ‘Keep The Flame’. There’s no point in taking big risks or adding textures to your music for the sake of it so do what you do but do it well has served Guttercats and its that dedication to their style that will indeed keep pushing the band forwards and it also means that they will continue to release quality records like ‘Eternal Life’.  the balladeering is and has always been excellent and tracks like the of beat and poetic ‘Farewell’ are excellent and mystical as the song wafts into the ether creating a twisted melody that is engaging and beautiful.

 

‘Dark Room’ is a brooding darker number with a throbbing bassline is a sidestep and a great addition to the flow of the album. ‘End Of Times’ has a romantic edge to it with the violin adding yet more texture to the record. ‘Know Your Roots’ is something of a twisted blues as the pace speeds up and falls back its a trip of a song with the screaming slide lurking in the mix rather than in your face.

As we head off into the tail end of the album ‘If I Had A Loaded Gun’ is a heaving five-plus minute epic that flys by and a real high point of the record with its layered acoustic backbone and the piano stabs and electric guitar jabbing away creating a really good song with Guts vocals making the listener lean in and hang off his every word – excellent song.

 

Closing the album off with the title track is another five-minute plus beast of a song. Encapsulating everything that Guttercats do to perfection like some gothic-tinged slice of ragged Rock and Roll Guttercats carry the torch forward for all the fallen like Thunders, Kusworth, Bators, Sudden.  If you want a record to accompany the late-night red wine sessions that you crave then look no further than Guttercats they still do Rock and Roll and do it very well.  ‘Eternal Life’ is a mighty fine record that deserves to be heard and loved buy it!

 

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Author: Dom Daley