Name Your Sorrow
Self-Released, 2024
9/10
The Irish rockers Pillow Queens return with a 3rd album, where the quintet explore queerness, insecurity, desire and heartbreak with plenty of energetic, intimate and punk ideas present.
“February 8th” opens the listen with Rachel Lyons’ dense drums alongside the strong attention to atmosphere, as Pamela Connolly’s expressive pipes complement the powerful delivery, and “Suffer” follows with Cathy McGuinness’ firm guitar amid the melodic singing of the raw yet melodic climate.
Further along, the crisp “Friend Of Mine” benefits from Sarah Corcoran’s agile bass, where a distinct dreaminess enters, while the noisey “Gone” comes with tuneful distortion and soulful singing that makes this the album’s best.
Deeper still, “One Night” escalates into a thick, nearly grungy appeal of hard hitting yet harmonic ideas, and “Notes On Worth” exits with Collin Pastore’s pretty keys cultivating a gentle haze of graceful song craft.
A thoughtful affair that balances loud versus soft dynamics, Pillow Queens recruit fuzzy guitars, melancholic bouts, sonic exploration and sublime introspection for a masterpiece of lush grit.
Travels well with: Agender- No Nostalgia; Psychic Lines- Sunset On Sunset