{"id":24571,"date":"2024-04-08T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=24571"},"modified":"2024-04-06T21:49:46","modified_gmt":"2024-04-06T21:49:46","slug":"buzzard-buzzard-buzzard-skinwalker-communion-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=24571","title":{"rendered":"Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard – \u2018Skinwalker\u2019 (Communion Records)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u2018Backhand Deals\u2019, the debut album from Cardiff based indie power pop sensations Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard made waves amongst those in the know back in 2022. With an image straight out of a Hanna-Barbera cartoon circa \u201877 and an album choc-a-bloc with radio-friendly singles such as \u2018New Age Millennial Magic\u2019 and \u2018Good Day\u2019, they channelled the pomp and circumstance of Queen, the guitar-driven glam rock of T Rex and the quirky songwriting magic of Jellyfish. How could they fail?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast forward 2 years and the band’s sophomore long player \u2018Skinwalker\u2019 sees singer and main songwriter Tom Reese take his band in a different direction than anyone could have expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the lead-up to this album\u2019s release, Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard opted to tour playing none of their older songs. Apart from the recent singles, it was all unfamiliar songs. A very brave or a very stupid move depending on your perspective. Turns out that there’s a newfound intensity to Tom\u2019s songwriting and these songs sounded fresh, vital and cool as fuck in a live environment. I snapped up a copy of the tour exclusive \u2018blood splatter\u2019 vinyl from the merch stand without hesitation, as soon as the band finished playing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Skinwalker\u2019 is a rollercoaster ride through the mind of Tom Reese as he comes to terms with depression, anxiety and a trip into therapy. As well as the metaphorical nods to the shifts in the band such as the album title and the Blair Witch styled cover art, there are the physical ones. Gone are the stripey jumpers and the quirky haircuts, the singer has shaved his head, wears Black Sabbath t-shirts and has penned a set of tunes that seem to be a reaction to the definite power pop of the debut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trademark layered vocals are still omnipresent, but the music is a gargantuan alt-rock, fuzzy monster. The album opens with a doomy, heavy metal chord that will make you jump and reach for the volume button before we glide into the first single \u2018National Rust\u2019, a Talking Heads-inspired alt-rock ditty, full of glorious bass and drums. Next, the Sabbathy fuzz of \u2018Chew\u2019, with its rising dance beat and lush harmonies takes over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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