The Los Angeles four-piece rock outfit Silversun Pickups welcome the new year with the announcement of a collection of their singles to date from their back catalogue – but it’s the inclusion of a new song, ‘Cannibal’, that’s got everyone excited.
Silversun Pickups’ sound has developed through their three consistently brilliant albums, from the noisy guitar soundscapes in their debut LP ‘Carnavas’ to the electronic textures heard in their latest record ‘Neck of the Woods’. ‘Cannibal’ manages to include both sets of sounds – beginning with a drum machine loop slightly reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails’ work, before exploding with a simple and loud distorted guitar hook. Singer/guitarist Brian Aubert is on top form – his angelic but edgy vocal tone soars above his frenetic and constantly loud guitar playing.
The band have often been compared to The Smashing Pumpkins – whether it’s to do with the inclusion of a female bass player, Aubert’s voice resembling that of Billy Corgan’s or the thick textures of distorted guitars that are present in many of Silversun Pickups’ catalogue. However, I feel that Silversun Pickups have a more accessible sound to their music, and this is very much evident in ‘Cannibal’. The aforementioned guitar riff acts as an underlying heartbeat to the chaos unfolding around it, until it builds up to an absolutely gorgeous breakdown, with swooning guitars and vocals intertwining with each other and making for a beautiful turn point in the song. Regardless of whether you are a long-term fan of the band or have never heard of them before, it is a captivating and spine-tingling moment.
The main reason why ‘Cannibal’ is such a good song is because of how tight it is – the band move and work absolutely in sync as an entity. Christopher Guanlao is a beast of a drummer and provides a solid backbone to the track – playing wildly in the chorus but then stripping back in the breakdown to make room for the delicate melodies.
‘Cannibal’ is loud, powerful and most of all, fun. Its simple hooks latch on to the mind of the listener and makes for a song that is begging to be played again and again. There may be no news about a new full-length album just yet, but if this song is a sign of the sort of things to expect from it, we should be in for a treat.
Watch the video to Cannibal: