South Walian four-piece The Family Battenberg make a striking debut with Spider Rock Forever, an EP that excels in spanning from psychedelic blissfulness to heavier-rocking passion. Recorded independently and shaped by themes of myth, devotion, and obsession, it captures a band channeling intensity and creativity into a sound that’s visceral and entirely their own.
Spider Rock Forever commences in consuming form with “Foggy.” Buzzing guitars and rumbling rhythms drive into a debonair vocal presence, exuding a timeless quality in its resonating tone as climactic guitar progressions culminate in a spirited, anthemic vocal unleashing at the one-minute turn — there resembling a lovely cross of Supergrass and Brian Jonestown Massacre. Swelling seamlessly from psych-forward intrigue into more enveloping passion, “Foggy” kicks off the EP with exciting captivation.
The EP’s fantastic energy doesn’t let up from there. “Gwyllgi” feels more in the modern psychedelic mold, a la Tame Impala, with its hypnotic vocal tone and galloping rhythms — succeeding as well with its sweltering, buzzing build-up. Mystique-filled lyricism draws from “an amalgamation of mythical stories from Wales,” which pairs intense rock enthrallment with narrative-rich allure. Anti-love song “Anteater” is another gem, fusing pulsating heavy guitar emergences with dynamic vocal momentum, thematically capturing woes of subservience and self-humiliation in some pursuits of love. A blistering rock success, Spider Rock Forever is an excellent showing from The Family Battenberg.
—
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
