Today saw Drowners release their first piece of music since their eponymous debut album over two years ago. The track is titled ‘Cruel ways’ and is the first single released from their upcoming album ‘On Desire’ set to be released at the end of June. Its tone is very reflective of its name seeing the New Yorkers edge away from their jangle –indie -pop ways and adopting a more matured sound.
The track begins with with a heavier than usual guitar riff, which has a sense of forced melancholy about it. This is followed shortly after by Matt Hitts growling vocals; ‘There’s an alternate meaning behind the words you spoke’ following the usual Drowners pattern of kinda tacky and most definitely about a love interest. But nonetheless the lyrics are very catchy and unlike the first album Hitts vocals are able to stand on their own two feet without getting lost in a sea of dreamy guitar. This time round they dictate where the song is going, in this case its building up the chorus with pacy, breathless vocals to make way for a scathing solo. Only to be followed to by softly spoken seductive vocals where his voice takes forefront. But its too repetitive and simple to be anything more than just a decent track. There are some good elements of it but its all just too predictable. It has so much of a 'I love this so much because look at Matt Hitts jaw line, he's so perfect I want to fuck him until his dick falls off' feel as to the reason people love the band/song.
The whole thing has a mid/late noughties, almost nostalgic feel about it. Nevertheless it does have more drive than anything off the debut album, this first song shows some promise for ’On Desire’ looking on course to offer something different... Well, kinda.
Rating 6/10
Listen to Cruel Waves below,
