Newcastle band GroundCulture are releasing their debut album ‘How Well Do You Really Know Yourself?’ on 1st May! They hope that the release brings a whole new meaning to heavy music, so prepare yourself for a wild listen…
The album gets off to a gripping start with opening track ‘Life Won’t Wait’. The rumbling intro and the fierce vocals set an intense tone, leaving you wondering where Goundculture have been hiding!
After this comes lead single ‘REALEYES’, a song about kicking your subconscious in the teeth and appreciating who you really are. Despite the areas of distortion in the song, this empowering track thrives off striking guitar and robust vocals.
‘Take My Breath Away’ is delivered with the same level of attack already heard in the previous tracks. While the vocals aren’t quite as intense, the heavy approach still stands, as with ‘Free Fall’. Even though the introduction brings a gentler shift in tone, throwing something different in to the mix, it soon relapses in to the familiar heavy sounds of Groundculture.
Their second single ‘Trauma Can Teach’, illuminates the fact that all of our painful experiences hold immense value when faced properly, and they can be used to better ourselves. The raw vocals give it that extra edge and make it a stand out track alongside ‘REALEYES’. They’re both songs aimed at the black sheep/underdogs of society, providing them with a safe space, somewhere in which they can be seen and heard.
Adding a different layer of rock to the album is ‘Dream Like a Child’ featuring vocals from Normandie’s Phillip Strand. This makes the album even more dynamic, and the strong riffs give it that extra flare! Emphasising this point is closing track ’10 10 1974’. The warm, acoustic tone gives the track an almost poignant sound and makes it a fitting song to close on. It leaves you feeling fulfilled having explored the different sounds Groundculture have to offer.
This album isn’t just about giving a new meaning to heavy music. It is about challenging and emphasising peoples current perceptions , making it a thought provoking but thoroughly enjoyable listen. Groundculture is a movement and a place for people to belong, and ‘How Well Do You Really Know Yourself?’ supports that.