Review: Fret! - Through The Wound The Light Comes In

Fret! are another particular fave of this blog since their 'Killing Susan' EP from last year and the follow up 'Killing Nico' EP. This time, however, is the long awaited album, also released via the wonderful Cruel Nature Records. Like the EPs, 'Through The Wound The Light Comes In' is full of blistering noise, warped post rock and a whole lot more. What's more is that it gives everything a real kick up the arse, which in this day and age, is sorely needed.

'DK' is an instrumental driven by guitars straight out of the Amphetamine Reptile stable - a coruscating mix of noise and grunge with an irresistable riff running through it and backed by some pummelling drums. It borders on surf at times, but only if Killdozer played surf. 'Freeman' opens with a melancholic intro that took me back to Nirvana circa 'Heart Shaped Box' but when the vocals come in the mood changes from one of melancholia to one of languid ennui. Throughout you can pick of traces of the Buttholes, Scratch Acid and even the Velvet Underground, but they are but fleeting glimpses and the track as a whole sounds like Fret!...and I sincerely hope that, in years to come, bloggers like myself will use the band as a reference point. The track positively oozes with passive aggression and backed with relentless but understated guitar and drums with only the vocals marking any rise in intensity...a cracking track. 'Attune' first appeared as a limited 7" a couple of years ago - it has the now recognisable noise background, really ramped up for this and some vocals from Cath Tyler that come across like a warped folk singer from the seventies. It all adds up to a short but huge noise track. 'Tired' is another short track but again filled with the bluff and bluster of those great noise bands of the past. 'Loop' is a huge track with a warped surf guitar leading the way, all heavy twang and Dick Dale on steroids. It is the drums that make this so big though, Rob Woodcock giving those skins the beating of a lifetime and in conjunction with Steve Strode's guitar it all makes for a three minutes of unveiled aggression. 'Judders' opens with a thudding bassline from Tyler before the guitar comes in and the track evolves into some mutated post rock, albeit with a flash of distinctly evil vocals. 'Cawlett' is one of the longer tracks and one based on a guitar/rhythm combo that again sounds like Killdozer but the deranged vocals come straight from the Mentally Ill (a great long-forgotten band...whatever happened to them?) or even the Very Things. It is slow, heavy and effective, shimmering with distortion and feedback. 'Hillbilly' is another short one and is played at a frenetic pace, the band really going into overdrive but blink and you'll miss it. The album is closed with 'Surf' and no prizes for guessing that it has more of that heavy twang providing the backbone, ably accompanied by pulsating bass and crashing drums..it's surf but not as we no it, but certainly how we love it.

Fret! are one of those bands that I've loved since first hearing, partly based on the fact that they take me way back to the golden age of Amp Rep and Blast First but also because they have an inherent sense of what makes a good record. They use and abuse a variety of styles and have no compunction about throwing them away when done with and this results in music that reflects influences but in no way pays homage - no gods, no heroes, just Fret! making a bloody good noise. What is also clear is that these guys obviously love what they do..underneath the Sturm und Drang is a mischievous edge that cocks a wry snoot at everything. 'Through The Wound The Light Comes In' is a wonderful album and one that I will no doubt come back to time and time again. The album is available on pre-order from the band's Bandcamp page here as both a download and limited edition CD and also the Cruel Nature Bandcamp page here.

It's also worth noting that the band are touring in March in support of Russia's Mirrored Lips - full dates are:

13 March: The Old Police House, GATESHEAD

14 March: Empty Shop HQ, DURHAM

15 March: Chunk, St Michaels House, LEEDS

16 March: Birthdays, Dalston, LONDON

17 March: The Blue Moon, CAMBRIDGE

18 March: South Street Arts Centre, READING

19 March: Old England, BRISTOL