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Album review: The Drowns – ‘Harsh Reality’

By Alex Goose

The Seattle punk n' rollers return with their best record yet!

One question: are the songs any good? That’s what most fans of The Drowns will want to know about ‘Harsh Reality’, the band’s fourth album. Put it this way: it’s unlikely that the Seattle crew are going to take any sharp turns into, say, metalcore or dubstep territory at this stage in the game – thank goodness. For fans of honest, melodic, politically-engaged blue-collar punk n’ roll, though, ‘Harsh Reality’ cements the hard-touring trio’s reputation as purveyors of some of the best around.

It kicks off with ‘Always A Bastard’, and it’s instantly reassuring that (a) the band’s knack for an addictive tune is as strong as ever, and (b) guitarist and co-vocalist Aaron ‘Rev’ Peters still sounds like he gargles whiskey on a daily basis. He mostly alternates song-by-song with the cleaner stylings of bassist and fellow vocalist Andy Wylie, who takes a star turn on the following ‘Have A Heart’; an ode to compassion in an age where it seems a depressingly rare commodity.

‘Relentless’ takes on the weight of capitalism upon the shoulders of the working poor, and lands somewhere between the raw but melodic hardcore of Hot Water Music and the anthemic punk rock of current tour-mates the Bouncing Souls. Close your eyes, and you can almost visualise a seething pit for the speedy ‘Hellish Tattoo’, and the fists in the air for the closing refrain of ‘Let’s Start A Cult’.

Our favourite part of the record, though, comes around the halfway point. First, there’s the “innocent til proven wealthy/that’s the way it goes in our city” chorus of ‘Strangled Voices’, which has been bouncing around our heads since first listen. Then comes the only real musical surprise on the record; ‘3rd & Pike’, which sees Rev growling reflectively over an accordion accompaniment and a bouncy, almost ska-like rhythm. The salvo ends with ‘Burn The Page’ (nice wordplay!), a slice of melodic, straightforward street punk that would surely have Cock Sparrer furious for not having written themselves. Superb stuff.

Rev nearly roars himself hoarse (well, more so than usual) on the following ‘Vengeance’, whilst Andy bemoans the state of the world on the gloriously catchy ‘Death Of The Optimist’. The remorseful ‘Tried To Love You’ barrels along in a blur of buzzsaw guitars, tattoos and no little attitude, and then the band sign off with two slices of classic Drowns in ‘Tender Hooks’ and ‘No Better’

Another Drowns album? Yes, the best Drowns album to date, you ungrateful bastards. They set the bar high for themselves on previous releases, but ‘Harsh Reality’ is proof enough that they’re still in rude health – both in a musical and lyrical sense. So yes, my friends, the songs are very damn good indeed. Plus, knowing them, The Drowns are probably playing near you soon; so go and hear them sound even better live.

‘Harsh Reality’ is released on 18th September via Pirates Press Records – pre-order it HERE.

Main Photo Credit: JOHN GILHOOLEY

  1. Always A Bastard
  2. Have A Heart
  3. Relentless
  4. Hellish Tattoo
  5. Let’s Start A Cult
  6. Strangled Voices
  7. 3rd & Pike
  8. Burn The Page
  9. Vengeance
  10. Death Of The Optimist
  11. Tried To Love You
  12. Tender Hooks
  13. No Better
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