Impressive bands normally come at you from the most unsuspecting of places. In the case of Zac and the New Men, it’s the depths of South Wales, specifically Crumlin, when they opened for Anchor Lane last year at The Patriot. But both the headliners and I recognised the talent and skill the band possessed. They might be enviably fresh-faced but as a unit and as musicians, they’re monsters belying their youth.
Indeed, debut album, Reinvent Me, displays their musicianship effortlessly whilst also doing what it says on the tin to a degree. This presents them in a far more modern light with deft alternative rock and pop rock sounds sitting shoulder to shoulder with a handful fuzzy classic rock numbers. It makes for an angsty and emotional listen powered by introspection and contemplative moments but is thoroughly modern so you don’t need to be breaking out the guyliner from 2007.
Opening salvos of “Say It” and “Deeper” are fuzz-laden riff-powered rockers which could have easily featured on an early Rival Sons album. There’s a similar snarl to be found in the vocals but they don’t quite have the force of Jay Buchanan’s. That said, it serves the songs here and the lighter touch mingles with the less muscular guitar tones. It continues and even ups the ante on “Atom Bomb”, the gritty, dirty riff bouncing off the minimalist drums with its deliberate military march-inspired rhythm to it. It’s an apt name and placing in the album as that’s essentially what they take to their more traditional sound for the remainder of the tracks which follow.
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However, it’s revisited towards the end of the album on “Birdcage” where they kick it up a gear or five with the Velvet Revolver-esque “Birdcage”, the grittier tone on the vocals gel with the driving guitars which sound their most straightforward, oozing with cool and taken straight from the Contraband playbook as an homage without being a straight lift. It’s also some of the most prominent drums of the album which sound like they’re channelling Matt Sorum, fighting for survival against the drums and just about winning said fight. There’s a swagger and attitude to the band on this track, not unlike that which the supergroup possessed twenty years ago.
Title track “Reinvent Me” is full of sweeping, atmospheric soundscapes as the band take on a more poppy flavour, backed by guitars which strike a balance between jangly and bombastic. The ambiance found on the next few songs show the band are hardly one-trick ponies and is where the album is the most interesting. Singles “Embers” and “That’s Ok” each take on the persona of sad boy rock (without assuming genders) and would likely prick the male vanity of anyone who sales this isn’t rock music.
In fact, the former’s high points are perfect for the last thirty seconds of an indie film trailer whilst the latter is very much the “It’s ok not to be ok”. It’s nothing which hasn’t been done before but it’s another welcome dose of solidarity and being a shoulder to lean on. It’s opening guitar is brooding and you can sense the anxiety and unsureness within as it portrays vulnerability, backed up by the defiance of the vocals in the chorus as it kicks up a notch and roars into life. Elsewhere, distortion features on “Social Blur” as they dial up the fuzz but bring in a healthy dose of groove to ensure they don’t fall into stoner territory. Plus, there’s an excellent blues-dripping guitar solo, pairing well with the equally bluesy and soulful one found on “Watching the World Go By”, powered by proficiency and passion to help it from becoming a tribute to Tigercub.
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Zac and the New Men have an incredibly special album on their hands. As fuzz rock meets standard hard rock with alternative and pop sounds, it’s those modern-leaning tracks which has the band at their strongest. It’s them at their most real and genuine. But this is an entire album full of great songs and if they keep this up, they’re only going to improve with each release. It’s delightfully fresh with subtle nods to their (and the genre’s) past whilst also giving an indication of where they’re going. Featuring solid production and songwriting which could easily be po-faced, they even manage to handle that with grace. It’s another arrow in the quiver of excellent Welsh bands and whatever follows this is going to have a lot to live up to.
Reinvent Me is out now
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