STR^NGE: STR^NGE – EP Review

STR^NGE: STR^NGE

EP – Out Now

Digital

Liverpool-based STR^NGE showcase their genre bending indie-come-theatrical-rock sound on the new self-titled EP. Highlighting the bands creativity, jumping from moments which sound like The Beatles to others which are closer to the likes of The Fratellis, White Stripes, Queens Of The Stone Age or even the rockier Arctic Monkey’s tracks, the band shift between soaring guitar licks and theatrical, piano led songwriting. 

Opening with the telephone eq filtered messy cuts of radio chatter and distant piano and vocals of Nausea, the album sets a nostalgic tone from the outset. Quickly shifting into The Length of a Cigarette, the band up the anti immediately with punching drums and fuzzy guitars creating a big indie-rock sound. Topped with the word heavy, poetic yet scathing vocals, the track is reminiscent of Humbug era Arctic Monkeys whilst retaining a more visceral sense of urgency and rawness that captures the energy of STR^NGE’s live shows. Building throughout the track peaks three quarters of the way through as it races into a euphoric instrumental break before ending on a climactic final chorus. 

Elsewhere on the EP, Caligula II brings a more theatrical rock approach, moving through a bluesy chord progression and tightly locked guitar, piano and drums. The stylistically wordy vocals lock in tight with the rhythm of the track to create a track which captures the performative flair of Queen and The last Dinner Party whilst retaining its indie rock feel and tonality. 

Later into the EP, Gal Gadot’s Vertigo Overthrow offers perhaps the most catchy moment of the release with a punchy, buoyant chorus which is as energetic and intense as it infectiously catchy and instantly repeatable. Closing track Timestuck showcases the more intimate side of the band’s songwriting, dropping the distortion for a more whimsical, nostalgic tone to match the theatrical delivery and poetic yet murky storytelling within the lyrics. Growing through piano, strummed acoustic and a chorus of vocal harmonies, the track grows into a rich soundscape of strings and gradually growing soaked guitar tones, building to an epic and stadium worthy sound. Unmistakably 70s influenced but retaining a fresh sense of urgency and bite, the 5 minute track ends the EP beautifully. 

The EP as a whole is bold, urgent, and brimming with ideas. While it is undeniably rooted in the here and now, it also invites listeners to dig deeper. Lyrically, the EP has more abstract, conceptual qualities compared to their first release, with plenty to unpack. From themes of political apathy to love’s complexity, the band touches on various facets of modern life, all while delivering poetic flourishes and sonic backdrops that disregard the norms of indie rock and search for something more mature and experimental. 

Comparing this EP to their previous work, the band says, “It’s our proper debut, in a way. This time we’ve decided to explore a few different genres and styles. It’s more out there, more abstract, with lots of layers that the listener can really dig into and analyse.”

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All words by Simon Lucas-Hughes. More writing by Simon Lucas-Hughes can be found at his author’s archive.