Let’s just start with this: Warish‘s new album, Next to Pay, is not a happy-go-lucky record. Lead singer / guitarist Riley Hawk has said that the album “is about a sense of imminent doom, everyone is going to die.” So, be prepared for what’s to come when you hear it.
What you’ll hear is a lot of rage, screamed vocals, blaring guitars, punk drumming, and throbbing bass. Warish’s love of Nirvana is prevalent on the album, as the influence of Misfits and Black Sabbath‘s crazier material. The title track opens the album with guitar riffs that sound like they’ve been deep fried as Hawk sings about time slipping away from him and the Grim Reaper getting one step closer each day. Hawk’s guitar on “Another No One” blares like a tornado warning siren. “S.H.M. (Second Hand Misery)” could’ve been a Bleach-era Nirvana B-side in another life. Hawk’s voice sounds like it’s going to crack at any second throughout it.
“Burn No Bridges” has Hawk trying to fight his way through physical and metaphysical storms. “Do you have a broken mind, or is it just your brain?” Hawks asks on “Say to Please,” a song that rages about the little guy fighting for the dreams of rich elitists. His guitar solo on it is a damn barn burner. “Seeing Red” is powered by Alex Bassaj‘s cool yet heavy bass walk. The drums and cymbals on “Destroyer” pound so hard that the song more than earns its name.
“Woven” is one of the jauntiest songs on the record, but is no less fuzzy and fiery. Hawk’s voice takes on Kurt Cobain qualities during the chorus. Bassaj’s bass cranks up on “Scars,” while Hawk tells everyone he doesn’t care what they think of him or anything else and new drummer Justin de la Vega puts down precision beats like Gatling gun rounds.
“Ordinary” takes on a bit of a doom energy and the vocals sound a a bit goth. “Superstar” takes off at about eighty mph and doesn’t let off the gas for a second. “Make the Escape” reminds me of Iron Maiden with its epic metal riffs and vocal styling. Hawk’s voice takes on a deeper tone and a break from the screaming he’s done through most of the album. The effect is excellent. The closer, “Fear and Pride,” brings back Hawk’s guttural growls and I’m sure will bowl over audiences once they get to play it live on a regular basis.
It’s a loud, heavy record, but what else do you expect from Warish? The band had plenty of rage to purge that was built up in 2020, and Next to Pay is here to help the rest of us burn that rage out of our system.
Keep your mind open.
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[Thanks to Dave at US / THEM Group.]
