Grey Moth Capture the Furious Confusion of "Youthhood" (Early Track Stream)
Regardless of whichever genre bucket it can be wedged into, immersing listeners in a caustic vat of riffs and screams is a tried-and-true vessel for transmitting the utmost heights and depths of emotion. Los Angeles-based duo Grey Moth brew their own such mixture on their upcoming album Love & Hatred, which sees a bespoke blend of punk and doom catalyzed by a searing application of black metal to reach a boiling point in short order. Beset by gruff roars and serrated growls, the duo’s abrasive and heartfelt jams seem to force their way out of the speakers with urgent intent. It could be too much, perhaps, but Grey Moth surgically wield their absurdly distorted tones and noisy outbreaks like a scalpel, allowing for quieter moments that still resonate with their oddball charm. There’s never a point on Love & Hatred where cacophony seems commonplace, and supremely compelling chaos waits around each corner. On “Youthhood,” which we’re premiering below, the band’s punk tendencies lend their noise-making skills a hypnotic swagger.
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The simple, subdued riff that starts off the song soon acquires a pounding tom rhythm and clanky bass accompaniment, gradually escalating as yelled vocals reach a similar apex—and then thunderous guitars arrive at a gallop like an onrushing avalanche, retreating This quiet-loud pattern is captivating on its own, but the end of the song introduces some harsher elements and punctuated hits to seal off the chaos. The arrangement isn’t overly complex, and that’s to its benefit: every moment on Love & Hatred is a self-encapsulated thrill, never truly needing much context to feel authentic.
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Love & Hatred releases March 5th independently through the band’s Bandcamp page.
