TROTOP
Rockerill/Black Basset, 2024
8/10
A creative listen that employs both organic and synthetic ideas, each track from Belgium’s Billions Of Comrades uses energetic, dance punk flavor, where plenty of intensity fuels the diversity.
“Tetons” gets the listen off to a frenzied start, where yelped vocals, acrobatics drums and throbbing bass make it difficult to decide if you need a pit or dance floor, and “Our Hours” follows with the legendary Mike Watts in attendance for the processed vocals and anthemic buzzing that’s quite thick.
“Unitá” occupies the midpoint and is rhythmically adventurous thanks to electronic manipulation and percussive prowess, while “Boomgang” carries loads of post-punk flavor, as synth acrobatics flow amid the biting singing.
“1480” and “Cabra” exit the listen, where the formers shakes and rattles with a festive appeal, and the latter finishes with an mysterious intimacy that includes soundbites, before building into a hard hitting and jarring delivery.
An often dizzying and sweaty exercise in asymmetrical structures and multi-language dance-rock, Billions Of Comrades won’t have you sitting still for one moment.
Travels well with: Helluvah- Fire Architecture; Jonas Albrecht- SCHREI MICH NICHT SO AN ICH BIN IN TRANCE BABY