PUPPY - PURE EVIL
PUPPY have always been an enigmatic band that seemed to push boundaries as if it were the norm, and their latest album Pure Evil is no different. In fact, it’s a step above everything they’ve produced so far. For any newcomers: don’t let their innocent band name fool you. While they might share the playfulness of a puppy, they’re far more likely to bark like a pack of dogs and howl like a wolf.
The band are already known for their groovy blend of grunge and metal, mixed with poppy melodies and hooks and a dash of doom, but on their latest album they seem to have perfected that recipe. Pure Evil is an album that, for the most part, knows what it is: confident, swaggering at times, fun, and introspective enough to keep you listening - it’s like System of a Down via Teenage Fanclub.
Opener ‘Shining Star’ could easily be an introduction to doom metal for the uninitiated, group vocals sit atop a chugging riff like a chorus of monks in a rock venue. ‘The Kiss’ is predictably the biggest song so far off the record - it’s catchy with enough bite to keep a metalhead listening and sounds like The Smashing Pumpkins covering a modern pop song. The band really shines on ‘Wasted Little Heart’, a song that shows off everything great about the band. Groovy, heavy, and with a healthy emphasis on being able to sing along. ‘Shame’ is another great track, characterised by slappy, in-your-face bass that just begs to be seen live with the volume turned up to eleven.
The band have predictably been favourably compared to Weezer in the past due to both bands affinity for riffs and pop vocals. ‘Forever’, a single off of their first self-titled EP released in 2015, could quite easily be a b-side from The Blue Album, but that doesn’t mean PUPPY are copying anyone by any means. What makes PUPPY such an exciting band is that you can hear the band that have influenced them so clearly in their music without it ever feeling a knock-off. Pure Evil is an album that charts these influences while displaying where PUPPY set themselves apart from their Rock-ancestors. PUPPY feel like a catalyst for popular British rock, breathing new life into a genre that can at times feel allergic to experimenting with different styles. If all Rock bands are doomed to become Pop bands, it’s exciting to see bands like PUPPY push heavy music to a wider audience without sacrificing riffs and grooves. They’re still fundamentally a Metal band and have always been, but new flirtations with shoegaze while keeping the influence of indie pop in regards to song structure are bound to bring new and younger fans to the barrier at all their shows.
The closing track ‘Glacial’ is the perfect summary of the album that precedes it. Beginning with the line “This is the end” might be a bit too on the nose, but it’s that bluntness that characterises PUPPY’s music and one of the things that makes his album great. PUPPY are a band who know what you want and they know how to give it to you. A euphoric closing track with glam-rock guitar solos and an outro that makes you feel like your neck is going to ache in the morning? Sure. Pure Evil is an album with something for everyone. Whether you’re an old-school metal fan looking for something new, someone looking to start listening to heavier music, or just someone looking to listen to a great album, Pure Evil could be your next favourite album.
Adam Blackwell
★★★★☆