Wavves 'V' album review

Image: Wavves

Five albums in and Wavves haven't veered too far from their tried and tested blueprint during this salt-sprayed frenetic crusade while Nathan Williams seemingly loses his mind: "Have I lived too long, why does my head hurt?" questions the front man in 'Heavy Metal Detox'

From the outset, Wavves new found clarity is welcoming with each and every garage impounded melody that cannons through the album. Produced by Woody Jackson, it's Wavves cleanest cut album yet, but by no means does that detract from their bedroom recorded charm we were drawn to in their goth-prodding infancy. 

For an album hinged on mental instability and social ineptness, Williams and co have managed to put the immediacy on their short burst caboodle of surf-punk rhythms that extract unrestricted enjoyment from such darkness.    

Pushing aside the self-destructive and bipolar tendencies of the album, Wavves have constructed a real sonic ear-worm.  Songs like 'Flamezesz' and 'Way Too Much' grasp your mind like a deformed, twelve-tentacled Octopus: "This conversation's getting boring" sings Williams in the latter, before a brief two chord interlude breaks the tempo for a moment. 

It's intricacies like these that add to the albums appeal, each song seems to abruptly mechanically combust before moving onto the next. The bass bounded 'Redlead' closes with a reverb drenched vocal solo that fizzles out to a piercing lo-fi noise. 

'V' serves up a musical juxtaposition of easy listening stoner-punk that carries a deeply personal narrative of a constant headache. It's an off-kilter concept, but nothing out of the ordinary for the bands air tight following. 

Wavves play at Sound Control in Manchester on Monday 16th November

Tickets are no longer available for this event