Review: Narrows
Band: Narrows
Album: New Distances
Label: Deathwish Inc
Release Date: 5/12
Genre: Offtime Metal / Atmospheric
4 / 5
When Botch broke up, I was heartbroken, never knowing whether or not the devastating voice of Dave Varellen would ever again accompany a record that had the venom that We Are the Romans possessed. He went on to the indie rock band Roy as a drummer, but alas, no vocals. When he hooked up with Rob Moran (Unbroken, Some Girls, Over My Dead Body), Ryan Frederiksen (These Arms Are Snakes, Nineironspitfire), Jodie Cox (Tropics, Rohame, Bullet Union), and Sam Stothers (Makeout Boys, Quarantine) it was all over, Narrows was born and the world is much better for it. Old, angry, and bitter is the theme for the band as a whole, and I have to say it suits them and the listeners well. There’s no limit to what they will or won’t do when it comes to this record. When guys are in a band for themselves and they’ve already had an established career, they’ll do the damnedest things.
After starting the hype gears rolling with their self titled EP, the band put the process in motion to release New Distances, their first full length offering. There is a lot to be said for the band’s ability to juggle the furious sound of Botch-esque riffs partnered with Varellen’s signature visceral vocals and a stoner metal jam session. The two styles don’t sound like they’d pair well together, but it’s the chaos and the calm that makes New Distances such a work to behold. Opening with “Chambered”, out of the gate with a dissonant beginning, leading into violently thrashing guitar lines. Unlike a lot of offtime bands, you hear a lot of depth in their tracks, it’s not just an overcomplicated mess in the attempt to seem talented. Three tracks in is the dark and methodical “A Restoration Effort”, calling on influences from Isis and Neurosis, creating the quiet before the storm.
Followed up by “I Give You Six Months”, guided by a strong rhythm section and noisy guitars before unleashing a blitz halfway through the song. Listening through the album, there aren’t weak spots to be found, but peaks and valleys of audible experimentation. The growth the band has made from their EP to the full length is staggering. That being said, this isn’t a record for the faint of heart. In theme park, you’d have to be “this tall” to listen to this record. It doesn’t cater to the young scene crowd, but more so to the older generation, those who were around for Botch, Unbroken, and Nineironspitfire. Old heads and lifers rejoice, Narrows is here to save you! With their angular guitar work and unparalleled desire to unleash a sonic assault on the world, there is no stopping them.
Track Listing:
1. Chambered
2. Sea Witch
3. A Restoration Effort
4. I Give You Six Months
5. Newly Restored
6. The Fourragere
7. Gypsy Kids
8. Marquis Lights
Included is Narrows’ video for “Gypsy Kids”:
