Reading up on The Wood Burning Savages, the sentiment that they were a resistance band seemed to echo like the walls of St Vitus.
Although punk is in no way a predictable beast, I felt like I could expect a sound that was untamed, grotesque and puncturing. I was surprised.
Although frenetic for sure, there is a gloriousness to The Wood Burning Savages ‘Hand To Mouth.’ A gorgeous sonic quality that lives as a symbiotic criticism of the harsh political realities of modern damnation. It’s a beautiful experience that I suggest you listen to.
Hailing from Derry, the punk buzzsaws have been slicing away at their ‘Stability’ follow up since the dooming days of COVID-19. Opening up about a life changing illness, frontman Paul Connolly said that “The past 18 months have been hell at times. But it puts everything into perspective”.
This gained perspective has contributed to ‘Hand To Mouth,’ an 11-track punk killer that leaves no shell un-smashed, expressing rotten discontent in an ever-refreshing way.
I might be getting ahead of myself but I wanted to pounce straight onto my favourite track from the album. ‘Record of Achievement’ is the most unique on ‘Hand to Mouth’s’ eclectic line-up.
My understanding of The Record of Achievement in the real world is that it’s an award ceremony deigned to empower children who are transitioning from primary to secondary school. It’s a moment of approval, a right of passage to sit back and reap the awards of seven years hard work.
Except no. Anyone who’s ever experienced this will know secondary school is even harder than primary school and things just keep getting relentlessly harder until you die. In this track, The Savages personify the bleakness of reality in contrast with the perceived success that life cruelly promises.
It’s here that the Justin Hawkin-esque bravado and pomp of the album really shines in it’s impact. Lines like “Screaming in a parked car” and “I’m a walking no-one, donor match” are sobering for a second until they intoxicate you. The track’s grandeur intentionally misleads it’s sentiment, portraying a modern life that is concealed and suffocated. It’s a fun track that makes you sad.
Jumping back to the album’s apocalyptic introduction, ‘Grind Your Teeth’ is an eye-opener. The track highlights the naivety of an agenda driven life, comparing it throughout to the stagnant state of reality that the speaker tries to spotlight. It’s not clear if The Savages are referring to thought that is ideological, religious, misinformed, something else or all of the above but their frustration is crystal.
The visceral language used really grounds the listener offering a survival based viewpoint, isolated from the overwhelming constructs that have latched onto reality. It’s a provoking start to a provoking album, literally throwing all of the rules out the window and killing the meaningless constraints of an already dead world. The Savages still manage to add their trademark cinematic ambience to this 3 and a half minute storm. It’s impressive and destructive. A sick opener.
The final track I’ll spotlight is ‘Last of the Legacies.’ The finale of the record, this proves that punk can be pretty. It’s an inspiring track that motivates it’s listener to engage in change even at their bleakest. This brings me back to the point I made that The Wood Burning Savages have an almost glorious aura to them. They rise above the issues they criticise, creating art that is both imposing and touching. A perfect blend that doesn’t just call for action, but acts.
