Some music flows from the city, some songs come from the dirt, Trench Gun’s “Push Me Away,” their new EP, comes from the gut. The harsh sounds and numbing distortion coming from my speakers have intricate rhythms, simple words, and did I mention distortion?
I first came across this EP about a week ago and put it off, honestly. I just didn’t want to do a heavy record. What I’ve discovered is there’s only two times for heavy records; when you feel like them, and when you don’t feel like them. I’ve since listened to it both on Bandcamp (the best version as there’s a bonus track) and on Spotify a few times and learned a little about Trench Gun. I learned a little about myself too.
We start off with the title track, “Push Me Away.” I feel like starting with the title track means you’re a pull no punches kinda’ person. There’s no lead up, no intro, just this attacking, marching, gaining momentum through out the song. Lyrically we have no frills as well. Nothing clouds the message here. There isn’t anything extra.
I wish I could write like this, actually. I don’t write this kind of music, but there’s a sense of urgency that I admire. The arrangements are almost sparse by today’s standards. The lyrics are front and center and easy to relate to because they’re sung well. Musicians from time to time come along that are able to weave together something incredible with a few elements. Here is a lesson on the element of simplicity. It’s about giving the song what IT wants, not what I want. I struggle with this. J. Pablo Torres doesn’t seem to. In fact, he seems to have mastered it. He’s who we’re dealing with. He gets all the credits on their Bandcamp where I bought the EP.
Next we have the song, “Unbreakable.” If the vocals sound different, that’s because there’s a guest vocalist by the name of Lewis Tivey in the lineup singing too. “Lewis Tivey is an independent alternative rock artist from Staffordshire in the UK. Making use of guitar effects pedals and a mix of electric and acoustic guitars, to create a wide variety of songs.” - according to Google. John of Trench Gun is from Los Angeles. I’d be interested to learn how this collaboration came about. This song is slow and thick. Brutal. I love the vocals here. They come from the toes. That’s what I love about John’s vocals, actually. He sings straight from the gut. It fits the personality of the record. It says a lot about his approach.
“Death Cult,” song number 3 is a simple little melody that lets you know your religion is a death cult, most likely. He wants none of that. Songs like this also make me jealous as a writer. I’d love to speak as plainly and honestly as Torres does here. Would it make my music sound differently? I am starting to think so.
My favorite right now is the 4th song on the EP. When I was younger I would listen to a lot of Sabbath. This song has Sabbath appeal. It’s slow, heavy, guttural, and short. Again we have simple messages, sparse arrangement. Almost an industrial feel is pervasive through the whole EP but for this listener, this is the song it centers around.
The opening few seconds to “Go Away” and then the vocal coming in, then the drums…. This is great song building, regardless of genre. Said my piece.
Bandcamp users get an extra song featuring a remix by One Blind Mouse.
And that’s it. 20 minutes or so and this intense ride is over. The marks it leaves on me are gaping wide and gushing Trench Gun to all my friends who want to listen to a purpose driven writer, a soulful singer, and a surprising collaborator.