Formed by brothers Victor and Julius Schack, Danish rockers Alcabean have already garnered praise from the likes of Clash, Team Rock and Upset for 2016’s Real Time Fiction, and have now returned to our ears with a fantastic new EP.
Fusing together nostalgic alt-rock sounds with a fresh and relevant energy, Head Down is an exemplary collection of raucous anthems. On pressing play, you’re immediately hit by the immense, pummelling beats of opening title track ‘Head Down’, which then builds to a seething climax with thrashing bass lines and the raw, swooning vocals of Victor Schack.
Continuing in this vein, ‘Bloody Pose’ oozes a dark energy with its ‘90s-inspired scuzz and reverb-strewn haze. ‘Still Remember’, on the other hand, signals a breather from the intense, grunge-fuelled passion of previous tracks; with brighter, catchier melodies, it’s an instant earworm, its rich, emotion-strewn power demanding multiple listens.
In keeping with the late ‘90s/early noughties vibes of the collection, a shoegaze-reminiscent ethereal atmosphere provides the backdrop for Schack’s impassioned vocals on ‘Running’, exuding shades of the euphoric sounds of the likes of My Vitriol.
Hitting you with its dark, angst-driven energy, ‘Biker Song’ is perhaps the heaviest offering on the EP; filled with feedback-fuelled layers of swirling sound, it’s an anthemic slice of intense, raw rock.
Closing the EP, ‘Why Keep Calling Home’ showcases Alcabean’s ability to build a truly captivating atmosphere with its twinkling, effected guitar tones that take a hold of your body and mind with their haunting, majestic splendour.
Addressing a vast range of topics, including poignant subjects like identity confusion, Head Down is an unmissable collection of emotion-filled and musically rich offerings for any fan of fuzzy, grunge-inspired rock. Perfectly fusing together a dark melancholy with an uplifting, driving force, it marks Alcabean out as a band most definitely worthy of your time.
Head Down is out now via We Are Suburban.