“Step softly into the inevitable new world of the underground.“
Inspired by early post-punk and minimalist rock, GRAVE GOODS arrive with their debut record, TUESDAY. NOTHING EXISTS. Drawing from a well of experience, the trio feature current and former members of PINS, Girls Names, and September Girls. The amalgamation has resulted in GRAVE GOODS being located between Manchester, Belfast, and Dublin, and each offering their own perspective. With promising signs coming from the recently released singles, the hectic yet cathartic world of GRAVE GOODS has plenty more to explore with their full-length.
Pitched guitar riffs that are difficult not to hum along to are just one example of the charm TUESDAY. NOTHING EXISTS. has to offer. “Source“, especially, has one that bounces around the mind, as well as later track “None” with its rumbling bassline accenting another memorable riff. The groove on drums at times is pure toe-tapping stuff, moving between toms and snare in a graceful but hectic fashion. While doing this, it holds itself to a non-conformist song structure that has an adventurous allure, each track keeping the listener curious of what might arrive next.
The vocal delivery at times is almost spoken-word, offering up a direct and traditionally punk avenue into the record’s narratives. Exploring sexual freedom in “Come“, rewriting narratives that have been placed upon with something more meaningful in “Source“, and exploring the myth of Sisyphus in closer “DIE“. While at first the allure of the jangling guitars and inciting drum fills capture the attention, there are nuances and stories within the lyricism to be understood and embraced.
The aforementioned “DIE“, closing out the record, leaves its mark with the line “Forever is never, never what you wished it was.” It scratches at one existentially, whilst performing a beat to dance to, in and of itself summarising the fun absurdity of the record. GRAVE GOODS prove that confronting mature topics doesn’t need to be done via a downtrodden path of slow acoustics and lamenting vocal performances.
As TUESDAY. NOTHING EXISTS. abruptly ends, its impact both instrumentally and lyrically can be a challenging one to digest. This isn’t levied at a negative towards the record; in amongst the frantic nature of the record there is plenty to absorb and possibly learn from. TUESDAY. NOTHING EXISTS. will be one that gives something different to each listener, with nobody coming away from it with the same view on what they experienced. It’s a hectic ride through the weird and wonderful world of GRAVE GOODS that, for those brave enough, might just be worth a venture.
7.5/10
Tuesday. Nothing Exists. is out this Friday, September 9th, via Tuelle Collective, and can be pre-ordered here.