Album Reviews

Review: Flash Point by Spiders

It’s a well known fact by now that the Swedes posses some of the best talent in music. Bands such as Graveyard, Witchcraft, The Truckfighters, Dozer and Green Leaf are fine examples that I believe solidify my statement. There are many many more besides those mentioned. Spiders are certainly on that list. Their debut full length, Flash Point, follows up a string of successful 7″ and 10″ releases.

If you’re not familiar with Spiders, here’s an edited bio. The full can be read here.

“SPIDERS is a Gothenburg based band featuring Ann-Sofie Hoyles, John Hoyles, Matteo Gambacorta and Ricard Harryson. SPIDERS was formed in Gothenburg in February 2010. By the end of January 2011 SPIDERS released their debut record, a 10” vinyl EP on Crusher Records containing four tracks. The self-titled release was very well received.”

If you’ve never heard any of their material before (shame on you), let me describe their sound. Take Graveyard, take out the retro feeling, add female vocals, some punk, a little bit of blues, and plenty of garage rock. The sound isn’t a retro or vintage garage rock that you’d hear in bands such as Cherry Choke but more modern. Close to The White Strips with a little more oomph. Flash Point isn’t a boring album of the same song over and over, it’s a more complicated journey. Each song has it’s own swagger, it carries itself not only as individual songs but as a whole as well. The song order actually help’s the songs transition from one to the next. And not every song is a garage rock. The song “Loss & Trouble” is a bit more of a hard rocker with a big bluesy rock and roll feel to it. “Hard to Keep True” is more of a bluesy classic rock sound, ala AC/DC with a killer solo to. The band varies it up.

Flash Point could easily be an album of the year candidate. I know it’s going to end up on my list somewhere. The fast and rugged sound is the selling point for me. The only thing that I don’t like is it’s short at just under 30 minutes. There’s 9 songs but they’re mostly short 2 to 3 minute songs. It’s almost like listening to a Ramones album. Actually, now that I think of it, Flash Point does have a bit of a Ramones flair in that the songs are a little spunky and at times feels a bit punk-ish. The album is due out in October via Crusher Records.