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Album Review

Sealings
I’m A Bastard Faux Discx/ Italian Beach Babes

Article written by Ged M - Oct 11, 2015

Sealings are a three piece from Brighton whose fierce self-assessment in the title is matched by the brutal but melodic songs that make up their debut. Opener ‘My Boyfriend’s Dead’ is a perfect starting point, a drum machine-led drone-rock tune in which guitars flare up through dense interference and the melody appears, waving rather than drowning within the intense sound. Noise is a constant: ‘Malloy’ is a two-and-a-half minute blast of distressed guitars and anguished electronic sounds and ‘White Devil’ ends with an ear-shattering screech of white noise.

This punk-meets-industrial noise (they’ve been called “the goth Ramones”) owes something to Sonic Youth’s wilder experiments and Jesus and Mary Chain’s feedback assaults while, vocally, there’s much Ian Curtis doominess when you can make out the words. Highlights include the out-of-body experience that is ‘Transient Curse’ while the end of the record is really strong. First is the brilliantly named ‘Psychic Gobshite’, a JAMC-inspired firestorm of loud rock’n’roll, whooshing electronica and heavily echoey vocals, while a touch of melody peeks through, like a hardy bloom in winter snow. Then the final song, the title track, is a doomy and bleak synth/drum machine industrial groan, but one where a recognisable chorus shines though.

The album conflates beauty and ugliness to a disquieting degree; it’s an immersive experience of ritual rock’n’roll but one that delights to display its malformed limbs. It’s not as confrontational a listening experience as they used to be, but it’s unpredictable and far from easy listening, which makes them stand out from their more conformist peers.

Links:
http://awesomeghost.tumblr.com/
http://www.fauxdiscx.com/shop/sealings-im-a-bastard
https://www.facebook.com/Sealings-141127105910320/timeline/