There was a time when finding new music involved thumbing through items in a record shop and taking a chance on an unheard band. If that was still the case, ‘Vessels’ may well be overlooked, the garish cover art and questionable band name not giving the best first impression. Fortunately these days the internet provides a ‘try before you buy’ platform and hidden inside is a solid post-hardcore album from this London-based five-piece.
Cute Cute Death’s sound is similar to Lower Definition and early Trophy Scars, with gritty, heavy instrumentals amidst dynamic song structures. The guitars have an aggressive bite as well as technical intricacy and thanks to the dynamic songwriting, the record moves along at a good pace. Contrary to the general direction of today’s post-hardcore, which tends towards studio effects and highly polished production, this record is refreshingly unrefined. ‘Vessels’ can be a little loose and scruffy at times but this adds to its character, drawing out the honesty and raw nature of the music. The production manages to replicate a live sound, making each instrument sound genuine and raw, adding to the angular, dynamic nature of the songs.
Like Lower Definition’s Matt Geise, Niko Forster’s vocals don’t span a large range, but he uses what he’s got to good effect, bringing a decent level of melody as well as aggression to the heavier parts. Forster also goes against the modern post-hardcore formula with his vocals, resisting the temptation to focus on massive chorus hooks and poppy melodies in favour of grittier arrangements that are more aligned to the feel of the music.
As the record progresses some songs do sound a little too similar and particularly in the latter stages, ideas start to feel recycled. ‘Statue’ changes the mood with a stripped-back, acoustic vibe that brings a welcome change in style, an effect that the band could’ve used more often across the record to add variation and stop the album becoming formulaic.
Pulo Revé did something different for UK post-hardcore in 2015 and this debut album shows that Cute Cute Death have the potential to do the same. ‘Vessels’ doesn’t offer quite the same level of experimentation as the aforementioned act, but it shares a similar, raw aesthetic that allows the honesty of the music to shine through without any overblown production detracting from the music. This is a solid first offering that puts the band on the map and with a bit more variation to keep things fresh across a full album, the UK post-hardcore scene will have another key player on its team.
MARK JOHNSON