Many artists have attempted to emulate the grunge sound of the ’90s while bringing it into the modern era effectively, yet very few are as enjoyable as the collection of songs that I just sat down and listened to. Pleasurehead by Gaygirl leads you through various elements of what the band are capable of and indicates what is to come.
MNausea drops you into a world where you feel like you’ve just put a Soundgarden album on for the very first time, but it’s 2020, and you’re sure that’s not Kim Thayil playing the guitar. The opening riff presents a calming yet exciting feeling within the listener, caught in the dreamy dynamic of the introduction. The song’s soothing vocal melody also brings a dark undertone to the fold that is raring to be unleashed.
The line ‘I’m just the meat under your cleaver’ comes out of the speakers and immediately pricks open the ears. You begin to believe the band are about to reach a crescendo, but they decide to build the suspense a while longer. As the vocalist increases the harshness of their delivery, it guides the music to an inevitable peak, and the whole band kicks in. The song uses this as a neat ending to a well-written opening of an exciting new sound.
Mikkel delivers what the previous song promised and comes in with a head-bopping riff that could easily be on any post-hardcore album of the noughties. The vocal melody once again echoes the grunge era by being emotional, upfront, and raw, but with a certain melancholy floating beneath the surface. This mix of elements produces a delightful tune that is definitely a crowd-pleasing anthem. Like any excellent grunge track, it ebbs and flows, like a whale raising its head for the excitement and spectacle, only to dive back down in order to move forward.
Pleasurehead contains an eclectic mix of sounds from the Brit-pop era. The faint vocal melodies give a wide scaping dynamic to the tune, and this makes it sound massive. The guitars switch from clean to scuzz at will, and this is one of the main reasons the song proves to be an excellent track for those who want something to drive or walk along to. The main riff could easily be the soundtrack to a Guy Ritchie film, and the bass line and supporting guitar bring a real opposing dynamic that indicates what the band is capable of.
Killing It is sure to be the other live fan favourite, as it’s a wonderfully punchy song in which the singer applies her unique sounding, yet somewhat Gwen Stefani-esque vocal melodies on top. The drums are tight throughout and playful at times too. This gives a subtle spice to the music and shows that they have fun when they play, which is what it’s all about.
At the end of Pleasurehead, you don’t feel as if it’s only been eleven minutes and fifty seconds. It’s a great selection of songs that gives a firm idea of what the band is all about, and we can’t wait to hear what’s next.