“Can you see it? Can you hear it? Can you feel it?“
It’s important to know when a rock-based project is just a two piece band, as this helps you visualise the stage as you listen, and adjusts your sonic expectations – ready for them to be blown out of the water. Friendship Commanders are a duo that have been turning heads for some time. Their first record saw them finding their feet with a rock and roll sound, which swiftly became more engaging and heavier on 2018’s Bill, under the guidance of Steve Albini. Returning in 2023 with a new LP has been mixed by Kurt Ballou, the guitars that say “sludge” with song structures that are tried and tested. As upbeat as the record feels, it’s lyrically deep and impactful.
“Blue” introduces us to the record with a thick riff, starting the way it means to go on. This is a song that isn’t afraid to place itself very specifically on a map, proudly singing about the skies of Massachusetts, which becomes a strong theme of the record. Buick Audra rocks a strong and versatile voice with blues-like inflections. “Fail” has great drumwork in the verses as the fills spill out into the next bar, building intensity with satisfaction. It’s somewhat darker in its mannerisms, which makes the following track “High Sun” even brighter by comparison. It’s a track that nails ‘major key metal’ – think Torche or Baroness embracing simplicity and good vibes. Audra uses very catchy vocal rhythms to make the track memorable.
An unmistakable sense of nostalgia surrounds these songs, making them magnetic to my ears. The vocal character on “Vampire” is classic rock-enough that you could show this proudly to your dad, with a the bridge might actually challenge him. Another more classic songwriting moment is “A Retraction”’s chorus: half romantic ballad, half Rush rock and roll. It’s not all straightforward, as the speedier “We Were Here” has satisfying turns when several bars are skipped during its outro.
With few sounds in play (guitars, vocals, drums, and bass) the production allows each one to be big and bashful, filling all the mids with rich fuzz guitars. Although rich in distortion, the guitars could have been even messier, instead leaving some space for Audra’s vocals, but perhaps not enough for comfort, as it’s all very busy. Jerry Roe’s drums always come with extra flourish, and the record owes much of its peppy vibe to this performance. Once or twice some additional sounds sneak in, like on “Distortion” which allows some sympathetic echoes to ring out over the band.
It’s refreshing to have a record that lands on a solidly unique sound. As such, I’ll forgive the record for not being a bit more dynamic. The big exception is “Dissonance” where Audra closes the record in poem. It’s the record’s pivotal moment where she speaks directly to the listener about the stories she wanted to tell on the album. In five minutes, she touches on so much, from cherished memories of childhood, to the barrage naysayers that have dogged her career, and even the abusers she has faced without support. Dark as some of these themes may be, I see much hope in this piece, praising the people she’s learned from, and her fondness for her home state – the ways in which it has been a certain bedrock for all these experiences. This outro cements the record as a special album that should have mass appeal.
8/10
Friendship Commanders’ Mass releases this Friday and can be pre-ordered here.