ALBUM: Weekend Recovery – ‘False Company’

Fuelled by the fuzzy indie rock riffage of Jack White, and the anthemic pop melodies of Paramore, Weekend Recovery has evolved from a Kent-based punk-pop four-piece into a garage-rock trio from up t’North in Leeds; transcending genres through experimentation and their undeniable punk rock attitude. Releasing two EPs – 2016’s Rumours and 2018’s In The Mourning respectively – and their impressive debut LP, 2018’s Get What You Came For, Weekend Recovery return with their self-reflective sophomore album, False Company; ten tracks of infectious do-it-yourself rock and roll.

Opening with the crushing ‘Radiator’, lead singer and guitarist Lori Forster lays the groundwork for the rest of the album with the perfect unification of grunge-inspired guitar riffs and raw emotion (“Got to stay alive / We’ve got to eat you alive”), before tearing apart toxic friendships in ‘Night Creature’ (“Keep it together / Even though you know the truth”), and preconceived ideas of who the fuck Lori is in ‘I Can’t Let Go’.

Bassist Josh Fawn and drummer Marcus Webster instinctively let loose on self-reflective tracks ‘It Doesn’t Seem Right’ and ‘Going Nowhere’, with scuzzy pulsating basslines and thrashing drum beats bounded by Lori’s hook-laden guitar melodies. Lowering the tempo for their latest single – indie fuzz ballad ‘Surprise’ – Lori displays her pop sensibilities with impassioned multi-layered vocals. A deeply personal track conveyed through soft/loud/soft distortion: “If I knew what I knew now / Maybe it would have been different somehow”.

Everyone has suffered from insecurity at some point. Weekend Recovery drowns out this negative noise with the energetic, uplifting ‘There’s A Sense’; picking up the pace through a fusion of propulsive bass, rhythmic guitar, and ‘sing-song’ vocals that will thrive in front of a live audience. “You got to admit there’s a sense of insecurity / Get away, get away, get away, get away!”

Alternating between power pop melodies and raw, energetic rock and roll, the final three tracks – ‘Yeah?!’, ‘You Know Why’ and ‘Zealot’ – conclude False Company; an uncompromising, confident LP worthy of repeat listening, that oozes the DIY work ethic of garage rock/punk. And whilst it can be easy to draw comparisons to their predecessors – Lori, Josh and Marcus wear their influences on their sleeves – Weekend Recovery has crafted a darker, heavier sound that is uniquely their own.

False Company is out now via Criminal Records, and was produced by Ed Heaton and mastered by Joe Fisher of Rainy Daze Recording. Buy here.

Ken Wynne
@Ken_Wynne

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

Video Premiere: Weekend Recovery – ‘There’s A Sense’

Having previously blasted into our ears with 2018’s album Get What You Came For, and with acclaim from the likes of NME, Radio X and  Kerrang!, Leeds three-piece Weekend Recovery are back with an energy-fuelled new single.

Reflecting the intensity of being an artist in the music industry, ‘There’s A Sense’ is an immensely catchy slice of garage-infused pop-punk. Propelled by front woman Lori’s soaring, impassioned vocals, swirling hooks race with a raging energy; leaving you ready for more of its infectious, blazing force.

Accompanied by a DIY homemade video featuring spliced together footage of a variety of friends and family rocking out to the track, it offers an uplifting sense of togetherness and unity in these scary, uncertain times. Oozing a buoyant, gritty power alongside a sense of glimmering hope that shines through, ‘There’s A Sense’ is guaranteed to get you up dancing and singing along, much like the stars of the video. If you’re missing that unique euphoric joy only to be found at live gigs, this video’s definitely for you.

Of the video, Lori explains:

“We had such an awesome idea for our video, but because of the current situation we had to (as with many businesses, artists etc) make adjustments. So we decided to reach out to our friends, families and supporters help make this very humbling version for our new song. It’ll also be nice to look back in a few months or years to remind ourselves every cloud has a silver lining and, although covid is terrible, it’s also brought us together. Thank you to everyone who helped us with this, it’s really brought a smile in the darkest of times.”

Watch the new video for ‘There’s A Sense’ now:

‘There’s A Sense’ is out now. Listen on Spotify.

 

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Neil Chapman

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

EP: Weekend Recovery – ‘In The Mourning’

One of GIHE faves is stumbling back out of their debauched weekend state to bring a banging follow-up EP to the album, Get What You Came For, which came out earlier in the year. Indeed it’s so, the Kentonian punk-pop four-piece Weekend Recovery is back with four brand new tunes and EP, In the Mourning, to get pulses racing.

The crunchy, clashy guitars on opening track, ‘Bite Your Tongue’ pull you in from the get-go, setting the track up for a metal song only to be answered with lilting vocals and the walk-down riff from one of Pearl Thompson’s sordid nightmares, switching back to a Buckethead dream out of nowhere. It’s brill and sets the EP up perfectly.

With the following track being the EP’s title one, it’s in prime position to become one you keep going back to. Weekend Recovery have stuck to their guns, to what they’re good at, producing up-tempo, gurgling-guitar, persistent percussion and wickedly crooned hits. ‘In The Mourning’ may well be the highlight track.

After that comes a pair of great songs that take a different path, one that might hint towards what will be next from the band whose stage presence has rocked us and The Finsbury to its core. On the one hand, ‘On My Knees’ is the EP’s track that most sounds like it would have also made a fab track on the album. On the other, closing track ‘I’m Not That Girl’ is a maudlin, lamenting rock ballad with damn inspiring near-country harmonies throughout its chorus that, not gonna lie, makes us excitedly ponder, “What’s next?”.

In The Mourning, the new EP from Weekend Recovery, is out 27th September.

Em Burfitt
@fenderqueer

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

Get In Her Ears Live @ The Finsbury w/ The Menstrual Cramps, 08.06.18

Following a host of super amazing bands playing for us recently – including LIINES, Witch Fever, The Magnettes, H.Grimace, Ghum and Dream Nails  – we were back at The Finsbury on Friday for another jam-packed night of the best new music.

Kicking off the night, Bad Sidekick kindly stepped in to fill the shoes of Salvation Jayne who sadly had to pull out. But what a way to start the night: the trio absolutely blow us away. As charismatic front-woman Cooper Rose oozes her seething, Northern twang over immense, thrashing beats and raging riffs, I’m reminded of early Arctic Monkeys with a unique, gritty edge. New favourite band alert!

Next up Brixton’s Coltana bring their visceral energy to the stage, delivering their riotous punk-rock anthems. Propelled by frenzied, whirring hooks and the magnetic charm of Cat’s impassioned spoken word vocals, it’s a set filled with wit and infectious energy as the band treat us to their wonderfully ferocious offerings.

Penultimate band of the night, Weekend Recovery, draw in a loyal army of fans with their contagious energy and endearing warmth. Racing with uplifting hooks and the angst-driven power of front-woman Lori’s vocals, each track is an instantly catchy, perfect slice of punk-pop at its finest.

I’ve been waiting a long time to see headliners The Menstrual Cramps. and – on finally having the honour – they don’t disappoint. From the topical, tongue-in-cheek wit of tracks such as ‘Hashtag Sad Penis’ and the empowering, feel-good vibes of ‘Make Girls Feel Good’, to the immense, politically-charged force of ‘Frack Off’ and ‘Cull The Tories’, their fantastic, fist-clenching force never ceases. As Emilia leads the band with her uncensored, genuine, seething passion, The Menstrual Cramps give a welcome voice to the anger we’re all feeling about the way society’s headed. An intense outpouring of emotion, The Menstrual Cramps’ set combines activism with musical prowess, reminding us all why we need bands like this now more than ever.

Huge thanks to the four AMAZING bands who played for us on Friday. And catch us next month at The Finsbury on 13th July, when we’ll be joined by The Empty Page, MeMe Detroit, Jemma Freeman and The Cosmic Something and Jetstream Pony!

Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photos: Em Burfitt / @fenderqueer

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment