As befits the debut release of a new act, there is precious little to find out about the band Rumours, beyond, according to the blurb, them being both “young and experienced”, and hailing from Germany. Even the link on their bandcamp page to an apparently separate website just loops back on itself. As such, the music will have to just speak for itself, and damn me, but isn’t that the way things are meant to be?
First track ‘Grinder’ chugs out (stop giggling at the back any Scottish readers) with the sort of stomping, frill free hard rock that was the bedrock of the sound of The Almighty over thirty years ago; simple, effective riffs, an unpretentious solo, pummelling rhythm section, and snarled lyrics. So far, so good. ‘Meat’ follows ‘Grinder’, and no I won’t make a joke about the song being mince (another nod to anyone North of Hadrian’s wall), and the formula continues devoid of any unnecessary flourishes, a Southern rock twang best washed down with a cold bottle of Bud joining the mix. ‘Black Milk’, by far the most expansive track on this short but sweet offering, throws in some late eighties Mission like Gothic gloom to the sound, particularly in the angsty delivery of the vocals and guitar jangle, whilst some punk attitude pogoes to the fore in the closing sprint of ‘Sunny Days, Dark Souls’.
Like this review, the “mini-LP” ‘Neither Innocent Nor Wavering’ (when did these things stop being EP’s, anyone?) is short and to the point, and won’t take up too much of your time. Is there anything new and ground-breaking? Well, the answer is no. Is there a definite passion to the music? That answer is an unerring yes. Rumours have really just offered a taster of what they could well be capable of, a sound that could see them opening for any number of more established acts, be they punk, stoner, or just hard rock, as and when tours start again, so whilst not setting my soul alight, they have definitely piqued my interest.
(7/10 Spenny)
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