Demagogue Days
Apollon, 2021
9/10
Spearheaded by drummer Trond Gjellum, Suburban Savages are back with a 3rd album, and their unique brand of pop, rock and progressive sounds are both complex and basic across these charming 8 tracks.
The longest track, “Aroused And Confused”, starts the listen with punchy drums from Gjellum as fluid synth guides the playful prog landscape that benefits from Aleksandra Morozova’s pretty backing vocals, and “Taciturnity” follows with frisky percussion and a driving pace of soaring melodies amid spirited guitar work alongside the flowing synth.
In the middle, “Krystle Fox” presents a more modern indie-rock angle that still buzzes with dense synth in a vocal-less climate, while “Iconoclast” heads right back to the ‘60s with a jangly, vocally strong and musically busy display that even embraces chanting.
Near the end, “Under Mirrored Skies” builds into a lush and harmonic atmosphere of dynamic, retro fun, and “The Silence Afterwards” exits the listen with hypnotic, synthetic drumming and pop influences that flirts with a cinematic appeal.
Gjellum’s bandmates, Anders Kristian Krabberod, Mari Lesteberg and Thomas Meidell, also sing and play multiple instruments each, and it results in a diverse and nostalgic listen that’s heavier on vocals then their previous work, and you won’t hear me complaining about that.
Travels well with: 35 Tapes- Home; Laughing Stock- Zero, Acts 1 & 2