Tokyo Taboo’s debut album certainly captures your attention. 6th Street Psychosis blasts into your eardrums and lets you know that this London-based duo have something to say, and you will have no choice but to listen.
Opener ‘Make It Out Alive’ immediately grabs you with the powerful, angst-driven force with which the album means to go on. Fuelled by the band’s anger at the government’s vote to bomb Syria in 2015, the track is a seething, riotous slice of raw rock. Continuing in the same vein, ‘N.A.R.C.I.S.M’ oozes an embittered, energy-fuelled vibrancy, and is propelled by the truly incredible power of front-woman Dolly Daggerz’s vocals.
Lightening the mood slightly are uptempo offerings such as ‘Bubbilicious’ and ‘Emotional Suicide’; racing with a catchy punk-pop energy, pummelling beats and the sweeping power of Dolly’s vocals, if these infectious tracks don’t get you up and head-banging, I don’t know what will.
Reminiscent of noughties rockers Paramore, the likes of ‘Leech’ and ‘Self Sabotage’ deliver a snarling, driving power with radically raucous riffs and a fantastic, high-octane energy.
The only respite from this aggressive energy comes in the form of ‘Drowning’; as the tempo suddenly slows, the band reveal their softer side with this emotion-strewn, contemplative offering.
The album draws to a close in the most powerful, hard-hitting way possible. A ferocious, and necessary, message to the new POTUS, ‘Pussy Power’ was apparently inspired by No Doubt’s ‘Just A Girl’; of the track, Dolly explains: “Pussy Power actually starts with the line ‘Just a girl / Just a slut..’ The idea of being ‘just’ something that no one takes seriously is very much how I feel as a female.” Racing with an uptempo power and motivational energy, it’s a truly empowering creation, and the perfect way to end this politically-charged, riotous collection.
At times like this, it’s particularly important for artists to voice the frustration, anger and fear that so many of us are feeling; and that is exactly what Tokyo Taboo have managed to do with 6th Street Psychosis. With its head-thrashing riffs, impassioned vocals and racing beats, it’s a perfect outlet of snarling emotion.
6th Street Psychosis is out tomorrow, 24th March, via TT Records.