Greys
If Anything
June 17 2014 (Carpark Records)
8/10
Words: Alison Mack
Fierce, fast and full on. The Greys post-punk debut is 2014's equivalent of mid-70s punk - which may just be all you need to know. The Toronto quartet power ferociously through every track standing between them and the finish line, in short, sharp bursts just enough to create a melodic maelstrom of noise across 11 tracks in just 35 minutes clear.
Recorded in ten days at Toronto’s Candle Recording studio, 'If Anything' is a loud and brashly confident work that right from opener 'Guy Picciotto' sets the propulsive seal - and zeal - for the remainder of the album on its homage to the Fugazi guitarist; vocalist Shehzaad Jiwani power blasting, "There goes my hero!/ He lives right down the street!/There goes my hero!/ He plays the same guitar as me!" over a wailing wall of dissonant guitar fuzz and hammering beats. Both 'Use Your Delusion' with its big sounding guitar chords, and the Nirvana-like 'Adderall' employ muscular strength as they drive on punk terrain through a whirring, gnarled rhythm section. While 'Pretty Grim' and 'Cold Spark' smooth and slow down the pace, they are but minor pit-stops on an otherwise relentless, hell driven road. As they demonstrated on their 'Drift' EP last year, Greys are not afraid of noise, or thrashing that noise all over the place. Passion in chaos.
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