One of the first band to be featured on the blog in November 2017, PORTRAYAL, the Shrewsbury, UK based studio project of Rob Tranter (Guitars, Bass, Synths) and Joe Crook (Vocals, Lyrics, Guitars) have released today the new 2-track single “Clearing Houses / Views”.
The duo plays a distinctive and genre-defying guitar-driven sound with an electronic backbone, straddling the line between shoegaze, post-punk and new wave.
“Clearing Houses” kicks-off with an instant blasts of searing guitar shrieks that whine and spin to dramatic heights over quick nimble drums and deep bassline, to seamlessly swift to abrasive distorted agonizing riffs, building a poignant climax of slow-burning aching intensity that ebb and flow together with detached, anxious and dire vocals into a dim cul-de-sac of alienation, mental-anguish, and helplessness with no way to get out.
The more atmospheric, albeit not less intriguing and with the same distinctive emotional punch “Views” shows further the band’s knack for writing strikingly passionate and sombre reverb-infused guitar rock songs of bristling dark energy.
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