Swerve City - EP Review: Over Oceans
Kiwi rock alternative 4-piece Swerve City have just dropped their long awaited 6 track EP Over Oceans. A culmination of their musical journey since their beginnings, during the chaos of the early 2020's pandemic. Over Oceans sees Swerve City create more musical twists and turns, incorporating hints and flavours from various rock and metal sub genres, with each song demonstrating different influences and elements on top of their known hard and heavy sound.
Got Trouble, the first single released in 2023, contains a lot of the elements of previously release SC tracks, solid grooves backed by a tight rhythm section, lead and rhythm guitar interplay and lead vocalist JP Carrol’s distinct voice, that glides easily between melodic post grunge to volatile aggression, dynamics that we have come to see from Swerve City over the years. Air Support is a bouncy, energetic, shotgun attack packed full of inspired guitar riffs, solos and catchy leads courtesy of guitarist Kevin Ashby. It features some of the heaviest vocals with lower register screams that while at first felt a little out of place over the more grooved orientated rock riffs, it delivers the element of surprise & hits you hard.
My complaint with Over Oceans (Interlude) is it should have been longer. A nicely crafted and melodically ambient piece which is well positioned in the flow of songs. It does set the tone for the next three tracks that I felt really elevated Swerve City’s sound further. They have a darker edge and take the listener in a lot more directions, musically and emotively.
Avalanche was the highlight track for me and some of SCs best songwriting to date. Every part of the song carries a hook. From the fast intro, with the controlled yet frantic pace to the offbeat and impassioned verses. The verses and choruses have huge anthemic radio vibes, deep lyrical content and the overall song is beautifully composed. The bass tone, with little flushes over the fret board alongside the guitar melodies, further accent & elevate the track. The bridge takes it up a notch, gathering speed before a half time breakdown and big guitar bends. Good Enough, another larger than life track & the most recent release, features some incredible drum fill work from Adam Forsdyke, while he’s always holding the beat down and controlling the songs, like Shannon Coloumb's bass work, there are excellent flashes of brilliant musicianship that show off their talents further while also holding down the solid drum and bass foundation.
Dead Dreams plays out the 6 track EP with a slower and sombre mood with a progressive half time energy, that further showcases more dynamic range. The guitar duality in every song is well composed and thoughtful, often holding an alternative melody or the vocal and guitar lead mirroring each other in harmony. The vocals vary in range, carrying a large weight of emotion and a sense of urgency. A lot more screamed vocals are featured in these songs, adding more textures alongside guitar harmonies and creating a larger wall of sound.
The production is clean, without being over compressed and mechanical, allowing the songs to breath with a live energy. Over Oceans serves as the final material with vocalist and guitarist JP Carroll, his vocal style, songwriting and presence, will have certainly left a hole within the groups foundation but leaving an excellent collection of big riffs & big hooks with excellent songwriting, complexity and drive. Over Oceans closes the book on this chapter of the band, while giving us a further glimpse of what is to come in the future.
About Swerve City
Swerve City possesses a sound that blends melodic rock with undertones of metal and pop sensibilities.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Swerve City
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