SINGLE REVIEW: October Drift – Blame The Young

October Drift are the definition of ‘cult favourites’. The four piece have been hard at work in the underground of the UK rock scene, first establishing a strong following through word-of-mouth commendations of their electrifying live performances, before going on to release a fantastic debut record and a solid follow-up.

Their explosive, wall-of-sound approach to noise rock and shoegaze, interwoven deftly with catchy melodies and pensive lyricism, has proven them to be more than just great live performers, and whilst they’ve yet to breakthrough into mainstream consciousness, anyone who’s anyone knows just how vital this band is to the rock scene. This thankfully continues with the band’s latest single, ‘Blame The Young’.

This is a patient track, one that builds from little and culminates in a rapturous celebration of what makes October Drift so addictive to listen to. The melodies and lyrical phrasings are repetitive in a hypnotic way, circling around and around as the rest of the song slowly progresses forwards; jangly riffs joined by the trademark jolting percussion of Chris Holmes, before weighty bass lines thunder in beneath chimes of sparse, bright keys.

Gentle use of vocal harmonies during the tracks more rousing and intense moments accompany the mournful, wavering tones of Kiran Roy beautifully, as he explores the constant blame game people use, both personally and societally, to avoid confronting the man in the mirror. Roy’s unique voice has always been a compelling element of October Drift’s formula, but here he sounds even richer, more robust, and more articulate than ever before, whilst ensuring none of that original rawness is lost.

With a UK headline tour ahead of them (featuring some of the most unique locations ever found on a tour poster, including Tunbridge Wells, Scunthorpe, and Hebden Bridge), ‘Blame The Young’ kickstarts this latest era of October Drift in exciting fashion, and if it’s possible for you to make a date, then don’t miss out on one of the UK’s premier live acts. It’s exciting time to be an October Drift fan.

For Fans Of: Hardwicke Circus, IST IST, Slowdive, Picture Parlour, Editors

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