Sincerely, Grizzly – “Halves”
“Literature Rock” is how Adelaide’s Sincerely, Grizzly have labelled themselves, and with the unique sounds to be found across their debut album Halves, they may have just earnt the right to their own genre.
Featuring elongated song titles, schitzophrenic lurchings and candid lyricisms, this is an exciting and sometimes challenging record to digest.
The seamless fusion of abrasive sonic bombardments and deceptive lulls are a big part of Sincerely, Grizzly‘s armoury. This is evident immediately as the dischord and acerbic vocal barks of ‘A Pickle For The Knowing Ones…‘ gives way to the gentler yet misleadingly dark opening of ‘Future History‘ (“do you know what its like trying to bury you and your family?”). This capricious expedition is now underway.
‘Catholic Guilt‘ is an album highlight and one of the more delicate melodies as forthright frontman Joshua Calligeros “falls in love with all the girls”. Needless to say the song then explodes into cacophonous mayhem. Likewise ‘Two- Face‘ (‘There’s always two sides to my face”) lures us in softly before assassinating us with vitriol. You know it’s coming, but it’s still fun.
The arcanely titled ‘Nightwatchman (I’ll Bite My Tongue’) is an epic swirling instrumental that ebbs and flows and would provide an apt soundtrack to a disturbing film. This is a fitting build up into the grandiose climax ‘Kaftkaesque‘. Featuring a dip into the band’s take on hip hop, the track morphs into a meandering nine minute epic. Spitting in the face of convention they have opted to release this as their second single, further testimony to their unorthodox methods.
The triumvirate of Joshua Calligeros (vocals, guitar), Griffin Farley (bass, vocals) and Rowan Mount (drums) have managed to concoct a complex and clamourous journey. With mood changes as sudden and frequent as it’s time signatures, Halves is far from a straightforward listen. But there is a plethora of straight up and down four by four rock around, which makes this genuinely original racket such a pleasure to consume.
He can also be found clinging to his youth on a skateboard or wandering aimlessly through the bush.
- The Beards @ The Metro, 2nd July ’16 - July 8, 2016
- Parkway Drive @ Wollongong Uni, 25th June ’16 - July 1, 2016
- Basement @ The Factory, 27th May ’16 - June 3, 2016
