Is this burden not enough?
Sugar Horse‘s self-written Bandcamp bio describes the group as “a decidedly average band.” Debut album The Live Long After might prove an effective counterpoint, with its wide array of genres touched on across its length. New EP Waterloo Teeth serves to further the notion that this band does not stay in one place long. Comprised of four tracks featuring an army of guest musicians, each one doesn’t seem to have a lot in common. It includes spots from member(s) of Idles, Heriot, Black Peaks, Pupil Slicer, and Conjuror, among others.
Opener and lead single “Disco Loadout” acts as a great example. Here, we have a two-minute blitz, by far the heaviest on the EP. Still dynamic, as expected with this band, but a quick in-and-out, as if to let out the aggression before the title track. The next sounds heard come in the form of an incredibly smooth saxophone solo, courtesy of Will Gardner. This track leans much more towards post-rock, with layered clean vocals and slow pacing. The guests compliment Sugar Horse‘s already noted ability to establish a wide range. The track breaks apart in its final third before reassembling with a metal-bound closing.
Having little bearing on what came before, “Gutted” strikes its own path forward. Heavier again, but this time with more doom and grandiosity to it. The multi-vocal approach appears again, surrounding the listener with harsh angst before stopping on a dime in favor of ethereal cleans from Nuala Honan. Regular lead vocalist Ashley Tubb shortly also turns in an inspired performance, as does the band at large. The abrupt shifts are part of the style here, but even within the track the cohesiveness between movements proves suspect.
Blood and bone in which we’re bound.
Our markings laced,
With thunderous sound,
And though this flood would see us drowned.
Final track and second single “Super Army Soldiers” leans into the clean side of the band’s sound. The best individual song on the EP, it has infinite replay value. With a wall of sound approach, it comes through as absolutely huge and an excellent closer. Though the EP may be only twenty minutes in length, it feels much longer as a result of how much happens during that time frame. With that in mind, it appears as welcome calm to the rough seas that preceded.
Taken individually, tracks on Waterloo Teeth largely shine on their own, but they are barely coherent to one another. It would present more of an issue on a proper album, naturally, so some lenience can be given in this instance. Additionally, the appearance of so many guests, integrated well into each track, serves to override a lot of that doubt. Still, if taken as a singles collection, it’s worthy of significant praise, but as a package they don’t make a lot of sense put together this way.
7.5/10
Sugar Horse – Waterloo Teeth comes out this Friday, October 28 on Small Pond and can be pre-ordered here.