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Gumm

Slogan Machine

Written by: PP on 30/12/2023 17:05:26

Tennessee hardcore crew Gumm has exploded onto the scene with their excellent debut "Slogan Machine". It converts brilliantly into an aggression-laden, high-energy live show that's difficult to follow as Militarie Gun recently discovered on their European tour. They play a brand of mid-tempo hardcore with the occasional pace-shift into a breakneck speed affair, but what sets it apart from its peers is their fantastic vocalist Drew Waldon. His decipherable barks are exceptionally charismatic and full of energy, resulting in an awesome howl that's better than most vocalists out there.

Instrumentally, the band throws in plenty of groovy rock'n'roll riffage on top of their gimmick-free, old-school hardcore expression. The tempo often changes within the same song to create variety, whilst the production has just the right amount of polish to allow their melodies to flourish while still keeping basements and tiny clubs busy in two steps. "Mirror", for instance, sounds like something Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes could have written if they went back towards the Gallows sound with Minor Threat as an inspiration.

It's catchy, heartfelt, and passionate in just the right way that allows Waldon to go amok in a live environment. And because his howl is so easily decipherable on record, it's so simple to digest his passionate lyrics, such as the "I wanna feel like this world is a world worth saving" on "No Frontier".

There's a driving rhythm throughout the record that pounds with a catchy beat without necessarily going outside of the confines of what is traditionally considered hardcore. Yet it feels like a breath of fresh air thanks to its rock'n'roll twist in a similar fashion as Kvelertak's black'n'roll did way back when.

"Slogan Machine" is one of the best hardcore releases this year thanks to its unassuming, straight-up approach to the genre while simultaneously daring to up the ante on composition and songwriting elements traditionally washed aside by testosterone-laden fist-pumping. Don't sleep on these guys, because "Slogan Machine" is already doing the rounds internationally and is the perfect launchpad for something truly exciting.

Download: Give You Back Your Youth, Mirror, Leave Me Out, No Frontier, Slogan Machine
For the fans of: Minor Threat, Gallows, The Ghost Of A Thousand, Paint It Black, Verse
Listen: Bandcamp

Release date 19.05.2023
Convulse Records