Powder Chutes - Single Review: Take It Or Leave It
I must confess to doing a little bit of a
double take when I first saw a photo of these guys, as it looked like none of
them were old enough to shave! A check
of their bio and I was able to see that the band comprises Archie Orbell (16),
Clarke West (16), Henry McConnell (16) & Otis Murphy (14) – when a group
put their age into their bio you know they are young. They’ve been busy already
though, playing some prestigious gigs not only in their hometown of Wanaka but
also in Queenstown. This is their debut single, which is being released ahead
of the six-track EP, Sweet Noise Pollution, which is due out in January;
based on this, that will be an interesting listen.
Here we have a band who have obviously been influenced by Shihad, while there are also hints of grunge and even some NWOBM naivety in it. There is definitely a demo sound to this, it has been left raw with an edge of filthiness, and one can imagine the guys going into the studio, plugging in and then leaving with this as the result. It starts with a drum pattern for a few bars before the guitars and bass come in, and it is quickly apparent that it is the chugging bass which gives this band its heart as it allows the guitars to follow the melody or just be there faintly fading out until it is time to come back in again. Apart from the youthful vocals, which do have an edge and a bluesy quality, there is nothing in the sound which would make one think that here is a band who are so young. I mean, they make White Nøise Mafia look like old men!
There is a vitality to this, and after just a few plays the hooks and annoyingly catchy chorus are embedded in the brain. If they are performing like this now, one wonders what the future holds for them, as if they can keep producing songs like this then anything could happen by the time they are old enough to buy me a beer.
About Powder Chutes
The band are described by Radio One 91FM as “already punching well above their weight in the Aotearoa music scene. With chunky riffs, and BIG fills, they have every head turning”.
Powder Chutes recently opened for ZZ Top, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Stone Temple Pilots and The Angels in front of 18,000 people at Gibbston Valley and headlined the Friday night live stage at the 2023 Burning Horse Festival.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Powder Chutes
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