Sugar Horse is releasing their striking new EP ‘Drugs’ on April 17th, 2020.
The five-track EP is packed with originality as the total disregard for urgency allows you to fully appreciate and immerse in the instruments backing the vocals. The crushing guitar riffs, reverb and power involved brings a sense of menace and foreboding to every track.
No matter if you’re a fan or new to Sugar Horse’s sound, whatever you expected from their first and title track ‘Drugs’, is not this!
Although the bands identifiably slow pace is still included, the layers and individuality of this track set a unique precedent for the rest of the album. The track is dissected as sections of the bass and electric guitar are stripped away, leaving just the vocals and drums before a long pause, giving the impression that the track is over.
However, you learn to understand that this EP is never that simple. The track picks up again with an unusual riff, followed by a rhythm which sounds as if it is being clapped. The track is turned completely on its head by the introduction of an almost gospel-like chorus with harmonies filling the melody. The off-kilter and menacing riff accompanying it is the only indicator to remind you who it is your listening to.
One thing to be noted is that despite the religious element, there is nothing holy about the Ep as ‘Sugar Horse’, take the volume, power and menace from zero to 100 in seconds.
The electric noise, thudding drumbeat and cacophony of sound which surrounds the second track ‘Pity Party’ dominates and takes priority over the vocals. The impressive show of power behind both bass, drums and guitar is highlighted by the controlled tempo, giving the instrumentally focused track an added layer of power.
The comically named, ‘Richard Branderson in the Sky with Dimond’s’ similarly places most of its focus on the instrumental aspects of the band. This third track is very heavily compressed by the weighted instrumental dominance and screaming vocals which fight to be heard over the crushing guitar.
The breaks within the track allow a deep, rich and haunting melody line to simmer through as the band’s ability to be both destructive and fragile is outlined. The element of discordance is especially noticeable in this track, creating an original sound which is both frightening and exciting.
Fourth on the list is ‘when September rain’. It’s the longest and slowest track on the EP as it maintains a much calmer and slower pace than the others. There is a syncopated emptiness to this track as the faded vocals take on an echoey ethereal sound. The familiar hum of the bass guitar alongside harmonies and a choral melody similar to ‘Drugs’ fills the silence and builds in power as all layers of vocals and instruments are thrown into the mix.
The final track ‘Dog Egg’ is one you defiantly need to be careful of if wearing headphones.
The track fully compensates for any of the volume lost in the previous track, filling the introduction with screaming, guitar feedback, and drums. This cuts to quiet, where you are accompanied by the familiar purr of the guitar. The vocals in this are kept at a distance, with no real melody line, as you strain to hear the lyrics.
The ‘Drugs’ EP is filled with power, both instrumentally and vocally, keeping you on your toes throughout with its hidden depths, layers and density. The EP is set to be released on the 17th April 2020.