Wednesday 30 October 2019

Album Review: The Coming Collapse by Foxhall Stacks (by Omar Ramlugon)


Supergroups are a funny thing. It’s easy to forget that quite a lot of household names such as Broken Social Scene, Cream and Led Zeppelin are in fact supergroups, seeing as their output has sort of swallowed up the music that came from their previous outfits. And then there’s the supergroups that, unfortunately, just make you long for the member’s original bands to reform all the more – Prophets of Rage, I’m looking in your direction.

And then there’s the third category, wherein the members manage to create something which is exciting and new which also touches on their respective backgrounds in a respectful, smile-inducing manner. I think it’s safe to say that Foxhall Stacks slots right into this niche.


The foursome is comprised of Government Issue’s Pete Moffatt on drums, ex-Velocity Girl and High Back Chairs guitarist Jim Spellman on lead guitar, Jawbox guitarist Bill Barbot on vocals and guitar, and Brian Baker of Bad Religion, Dag Nasty and Minor Threat fame on bass. This might seem like a strange move given Baker’s legendary lead guitar talents but it’s worth remembering that he was also the bassist in Minor Threat.

That’s a whole lot of DC hardcore talent to pack into one band, and with that in mind you’d be completely right to expect The Coming Collapse to be a gnarled, mailed-fist blow to the jaw sort of record, especially given the political and social climate that surrounded the band. But right from the off, the band manage to completely rock out while – dare I say it – clearly having a huge amount of fun, which is absolutely infectious. Baker and Moffatt’s watertight rhythm section always play to support the song, and the end product is all the better for it.

There’s edge and muscly overdriven guitars, but delivered with more hooks than a pirate amputee hospital. Opener ‘The Reckoning’ manages to deliver a superbly declamatory lyric while completely taking place in your head with its vocal harmonies; “In an unwavering voice / Willing to make a choice for the first time / I want to scream at the bluebloods sitting pretty / In the canyons of the city”. Lyrically these songs aren’t the recondite sketches displayed on your average Jawbox record, while still remaining sharp and skirting cliché.

The following ‘Turntable Exiles’ and ‘Law of Averages’ manage to raise the game from what’s an already strong start, piling chugging harmonic guitars on top of Barbot’s smooth, inviting vocal timbre. Really, this whole record is a reminder that, on top of his usual guitar fencing with J Robbins, Bill Barbot is an excellent and underrated singer, and he is more than capably supported by some oozin’ aahs from the rest of the band throughout. ‘Turntable Exiles’ winds down to a close with a gentle piano that functions as a warm accompaniment rather than a vanity add-on, while ‘Law of Averages’ even includes a left turn into an acoustic driven bridge before roaring back into life with a beautifully composed guitar solo that is just the right length.

The overriding impression that one gets from The Coming Collapse is of these hardcore veterans relaxing and letting the pop melodies that they had perhaps subverted or otherwise transmuted in their younger bands come to the fore, while adding in ear-catching twists and chord changes that serve to draw the listener in further. This is the kind of album that is equally rewarding to the casual listener as it is to in-depth headphone analysis, which reveals clever little twists and hooks all the way through; there’s even some slide guitar on tracks like ‘Failure’ and the late-album standout ‘Top Of The Pops’.

This is a great record, bridging the gap between its members’ pasts and the present in style with verve, wit and well-honed songs. The whole band is in fine form from start to finish, and it will not fail to put a smile on your face. Highly recommended.

Stream and download The Coming Collapse here: https://foxhallstacks.bandcamp.com/album/the-coming-collapse

Like Foxhall Stacks here: https://www.facebook.com/foxhallstacks/

This review was written by Omar Ramlugon

No comments:

Post a Comment