Adam KennyIt’s difficult to set yourself apart in the world of indie rock where it seems like every dude you meet who has a pedal and listens to way too much Smashing Pumpkins (and that’s coming from a Smashing Pumpkins fan) thinks they can bring back what The Cure had in their early days, it’s a difficult genre to stick out in as it demands fresh idea but comes with an audience that craves familiarty. NewDad helps with those cravings. Being compared to the greats is sometimes a curse for failure but for NewDad it ended up just being a fairly apt comparison.
The Band’s Journey to Madra
NewDad started to make waves with their 2021 EP ‘Waves’ which was met with praise and had some particular high notes like ‘I Don’t Recognise You’. The Galway based band have continued to build something for themselves over the past 5 years with several singles and even another EP ‘Banshee’ which finall lead to their debut album – Madra. As far as debut albums go – Madra would be a welcome start to any band’s discography. It’s by means not a perfect album, but it’s not trying to be the best thing you’ve ever heard, it’s just trying to be heard and if you give it a listen you’ll find yourself walking away with a few favourites.
The Songs
Setting the Tone with Angel
The album opens up with Angel which has no problem establishing the vibe and pace of the album, starting off with muddy riffs and bewitching vocals. The band shows some edge not only with mirky instrumentals but with some head turning lyrics. “You’re sweet but I’m sick, I hurt myself for kicks”, the violent lyrics paired with the soft vocals almost kick starts the head banging you’ll be doing for the rest of the song via whiplash. This sharp contrast carries out throughout the album on various songs, but Angel sticks to be one of my favourites upon multiple relistens.
Sonic Influences Shine in Sickly Sweet and Where I Go
The second song Sickly Sweet has more of a melodic emphasis but still carries on with the muddy instrumentals. At this point some of the sonic influences come clear, The Cure and the Pixies most notably, but you can’t help but notice an almost bedroom pop feel to it all. Most notably on the song Where I Go which takes a break and has more an uplifting and easy-going vibe compared to some of the previous songs on the album. The melodies from the guitars and its tempo lean more towards indie rock much like what Wolf Alice do with their catchy melodies but with an air of attractive arrogance almost. The entire album is guilty of genre blending, but it’s done tastefully and carefully.
In My Head and the Balance of Shoegaze
In My Head carries itself with an upbeat and fast tempo that reminds me again of Wolf Alice. The summery guitars with layered dreamy vocals, if you jumped from Angel to this song you’d immediately notice an obvious but familiar difference in sound. Lyrically, the song talks about being trapped and descending into a complicated and predictable madness that only the writer can understand that’s in their head. The lyrics and how they come across in songs is where the shoegaze element of the band’s music comes in where you’re more entranced by the goth esque meandering that’s mixed upon itself to the point where the lyrics sound more like melodies than they do words, but you don’t need to strain yourself either to hear them. It’s a difficult balance but NewDad do it well.
Closing Strong with Madra
The album finishes itself off with the titular track Madra – the album gets back to it’s heavier sound where the dreary sound and hopeless lyrics come together to wave goodbye. The lyrics contain the same irony and hurt that’s present in every song. The guitars, bass and drum slowly build up and down for the duration of the track an by the end they’re all working together one last time with the vocalist showing them the way out.
Final Thoughts
For me, Madra scratched an itch that I had been trying to get to for a while. Upon relistens I find things I might not necessarily love and the genre shifts throughout can sometime not be as welcoming as I remember, but I still walk away glad I listened to the song. It’s an album that I think everyone could walk away with a different favourite which to me is a mark of a strong album that’s worth a listen, and if anything I’m excited for whatever the band tries to do next.
