I’ve found a new spirit animal in the form of Massachusetts rock band, PVRIS and I’ve had a religious experience in the form of their debut album, White Noise. Let me say it outright; for me, this is an album of incredible persuasion; it has this otherworldly capacity to inspire, challenge and motivate you. It is wonderfully multifaceted; composed of ethereal intricacies and atmospheric brilliance that leave you genuinely enthralled and hungry for more. And, it is the perfect concoction of rock and electronica; so perfectly done in fact, that the compliments of each genre forge seamlessly and unbeknownst to the listener. This is my contender for album of 2014, hands down.
Kicking the 10 track album off with Smoke, we’re only given a little taste of what we’re in for over the course of the next 40 minutes; if anything, the album only gets stronger as the tracks progress. This isn’t to say Smoke isn’t a strong opening track; on the contrary, Smoke is an ideal opening track. It boasts an array of beautiful synths, atmospheric guitars and pounding drums, courtesy of the talents of Alex Babinski and Brian MacDonald, that are prominent throughout the album, and in many respects, take on identities all their own. The other little gem Smoke so wonderfully introduces to the listener, is the vocal prowess of young front-woman, Lyndsey Gunnulfsen, who, in my honest opinion, is one hell of a vocalist. At just 20, Gunnulfsen possesses a voice that projects youth but screams wisdom; she generously serves a healthy mix of gentle, angsty, guttural and ambient and if I could marry a voice…it’d be hers.
Possessing spiritual and transcendental undertones, songs such as St. Patrick and My House are not only thought provoking in the lyrical stylings, they’re also wonderful anthems, overflowing with a magnitude of brilliant technicalities and superb vocals. They’re exquisite and celestial, powerful and emotional and they somewhat challenge you to think outside the box and to try and explain the inexplainable.
Moving on, Fire displays Gunnulfsen’s darker side vocally and lyrically –
‘Don’t blame your death on the shit in your head that you claimed ate you like a virus for days on end. I watched you decay, watched you waste away. Who’d you think you’d fool, baby, digging your own grave? So go ahead, yeah, just drop dead and while you’re tryin’ to fool the whole world, don’t forget, that you’ll decay and you’ll waste away. You can’t cheat death when you’re diggin’ your own grave!’
– and this is perhaps the standout track for myself personally. It just projects angst and power; the snappiness in her voice is pure genius and it is exactly the kind of track I prioritise over all others, for this very reason. Complimenting the vocals, the guitars and drums are just superb; they’re edgy, sharp and precise. The synths, reflective almost of gothic cathedral organs, just add to the overall tone of the track and just complete it wonderfully. On my first listen of this track, I was so overwhelmed by just how much I loved it, that I found myself with my jaw to the floor at its completion; it’s just so damn good!
We slow down slightly with Eyelids and Holy but kick right back into gear with their successor tracks, White Noise, Ghosts and Mirrors, respectively – all of which maintain the overall tone and technicalities the album has established and mastered and each possessing slightly differing themes but still showcasing the artistry of these young musicians excellently. Perfectly adding to the authenticity of the album as a whole, I believe.
The album wraps up with Let Them In, an immensely beautiful and powerful track which perfectly sums the albums overall tone. I consider Let Them In, my contender for the silver behind Fire; it is just another example of punchy, pulsating, auditory pleasure, which deceptively jumps from the slower, atmospheric stylings of tracks such as Smoke and Eyelids to the fast paced, amplified stylings of tracks such as Fire and My House. A track that I’ve had on repeat more than the album itself – I’m stuck on it for all the right reasons and I don’t see myself growing bored of it any time soon.
All in all, this debut album from PVRIS is an excellent showcase of musical artistry and talent. No doubt, PVRIS will be taking the world by storm; their music takes you on a sensory journey, challenges you, motivates you, gives reason to reflect and awakens the soul. I highly, highly recommend this album; I dare you not to enjoy it because, as far as I’m concerned, there is something on this album for absolutely everyone.