Vibrant Heels - Turbo Thunder Pussy
If you happened to be on the lookout for a band that sounded like Faith No More and Rage Against The Machine had a strange funk-emo-punk-rap-rock baby…which is a very specific sort of band to be on the lookout for….then you needn’t look any further than Vibrant Heels who are just gearing up to release their latest EP ‘Turbo Thunder Pussy’ in just a few days on September 6th!
The opening of this EP throws you directly ‘Into The Fray’ and there is no letting up with this tune. It is just full of that funk thrash and quick, almost rap-rock that Rage was (and is) so famous for. But one cannot shy away from the apparent harmonies throughout the song (and indeed throughout the album). It adds a quality of eerie sweetness to the mix that just would not exist amongst the creative cacophony that is this first track, full of vocal effect, screaming, lightning guitar that strikes all over the place the whole track through and a hard-as-fuck attack in the rhythm section that keeps everyone in check.
Once we hit onto ‘Cycles’, however, the mood has changed completely to an almost shoe-gaze, garage lament of epic and simultaneously morose proportions. While I struggle to understand a lot of the vocals of this piece, one cannot deny the beauty of the harmonies throughout the harmonies, which find themselves exploring a major hit amongst the predominantly minor-entrenched tune. This, again, adds and eerie quality of sweetness to an otherwise bitter-sounding song. The guitar hook on this one is present through the entirety of each verse and it does nothing but its job and truly hooks the listener, carrying them on to a rather surprising chorus and breakdown and the song progresses.
I don’t know when the last time you had ‘Lollipops’ was but I can promise you that these are very different than anything you’ve tasted before. This is a comparatively bizarre track when it comes to the way the EP opened. There is an interesting voice put on for this one that feels almost like a musical mockery of Red Hot Chili Peppers. I’m sure that was not the intention but there is certainly that vibe in this track and it is strangely catchy.
However, as soon as the ‘Lollipops’ are done, we are driven straight into ‘Ruby/Engine’. This is a hard-hitting track that very much matches the opening track in its refusal to let up while it harnesses that Rage quality with a bit more roaring punctuating the choruses. The bass player really gets a chance to shine in this one and dances all over the track even while the beast roars his way through the breakdown of the track. There is no doubt in my mind that Vibrant Heels is packed full of an intense energy that I hope that can sustain for a long time to come.
Who here is concerned about ‘Orbital Bombardment’? Anyone? Well, it’s here! It might be a slow burn off the top but it hits hard, there is no mistaking that. This track reminds me of a long dragged-out Sabbath-sounding sort of track…at least until the demonic roaring begins (which is an incredible feat of the human voice, that is for sure). These guys no just how to build up the listener and then tear them apart with hard-hitting…everything! In spite of that, there is an interestingly hypnotic rhythm that this track will lull the listener into, if they allow it, and it is a wonderful place to be.
I have to say that Turbo Thunder Pussy is one hell of an EP to be launching and everyone who loves to be accosted by way of music should definitely check out this upcoming release from Vibrant Heels! It drops on September 6th but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy at least some of it right over HERE with their single ‘Cycles’. And if you want to keep more up to date with these guys, then definitely check out their website!
