Drenge - Strange Creatures
Sometimes it’s far-fetched to claim a record sounds like something other than music, but in the case of Drenge’s third album Strange Creatures, it’s apt.
Strange Creatures has the mouthfeel of a horror anthology, each track correlating with a different story--there’s a touch of ‘Carrie’ in there, a drop of ‘The Bloody Chamber’, and a whole fistful of modern gothic.
The opening trio of tracks does nothing but showcase how astoundingly far Drenge have come. Since the days of their grungy and somewhat adolescent self-titled debut, it sounds like Drenge have discovered who they are. ‘Bonfire of the City Boys’, in particular, shines as a display of musical exploration. It’s nothing experimental, per se, but it is a purposeful movement away from anything the band have done before.
‘Prom Night’ uses haunting lyrics and a thread of brass to make it feel like something that could have come from the pen of Stephen King. Gentler tones come to light in ‘Strange Creatures’, ‘Avalanches’, and album closer ‘When I Look Into Your Eyes’, with frontman Eoin’s vocals taking centre stage. The tracks feel intimate, even, and their stories feel closer than ever before.
That’s something immediately evident on Strange Creatures; the stories woven through every song on the album feel just as, if not more, immediate and personal than the standouts on the trio’s first two LPs. The album, in the end, listens like a satiating read. It’s as if Strange Creatures was recorded as a counterpart for a collection of horror stories.
Whilst the album trails off towards its end, rather than retaining the energy and thrill of its opening three tracks, this is still an accomplishment for the band. It’s clever and intimate, mature and multi-layered, and it may be their best yet.
7/10
