Album review: Swallow the Rat sophomore effort South Locust positions band well for SXSW 2024
New Zealand hard rock trio, Swallow the Rat, released their latest LP, South Locust, on September 1, 2023, and are set to perform at this year’s SXSW music festival as part of the Aotearoa contingent. The band has a number of performances slated for the festival including an unofficial event, Webberville Block Party presented by The Cosmic Clash and Play to the Plants at The Lost Well, Cavalier and Fading Yellow House on Saturday, March 16.
Swallow the Rat will also appear at Hotel Vegas with ST 37 this Friday for an early show presented by The Nothing Song. The performance also marks the birthday of their manager, Ryan Cano, who has run artist management company The Loyalty Firm for nearly 20 years.
The album consists of 10 tracks, fueled with a post-punk sound, while echoing 90’s alternative vibes.
Swallow the Rat’s sophomore full-length, South Locust displays inordinate growth by the hard rock three-piece. Their first album, Leaving Room, was released in April of 2020, and was an impressive introduction, showing much promise for the New Zealand rockers. This follow-up delivers in spades, establishing STR as a force to be reckoned with.
The opening song, “Terra Nelius”, is a heavy-hitting, jump-starter that lays a perfect foundation for the entire LP.
The record continues with“Gravois Park.” The song is structured with complexity, and is more uptempo than the opener, but maintains the tone of the intro track, further revealing the atmospheric trajectory of the album.
The Auckland band’s members Brian Purington (guitar), vocalist and drummer Hayden Fritchley, and bassist/vocalist Stephen Horsley, have developed their sound into what most would describe as post-punk, but they are so much more than that. You might recognize Purington’s name as a member of veteran Austin post rock act, my education who are still active, touring last year with Japan’s Acid Mother’s Temple.
As South Locust progresses, it splices calm clarity with raw, emotive force in a systematic fashion. The guitar work is at times pristine and tight, and at others, intentionally discordant, in a whirlwind of psych-shoegaze and post-punk musings.
“Small Plates” stands out as one of the more rhythmic and catchy numbers with a sound reminiscent of late-80’s indie. While “Cave” and “ZZK” slap back to a heavier, more uptempo sound, echoing the opening track.
South Locust was released by the Austin-London-based independent label, Shifting Sounds on September 1 of last year. Swallow the Rats’ official SXSW showcase is set for 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, at Zilker Brewing. This band will most definitely put on a show well worth checking out.
Track List:
Terra Nelius
Gravois Park
Mind
Chain Mail
Small Plates
Cave
ZZK
Idea of South
Redactor’s Dilema
Straight Roads
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