Angst, Nostalgia, and Crunchy Guitars: a Listen to Billow’s “Wrecks”
This EP takes me back to hot cups of coffee, sneakily sipped PBR, and torn up couches in the old punk venue I used to play all the time as a teenager in Utah. “Wrecks” feels like home with its thundering drums, biting guitar, and yelled vocals that are one part apathy and two parts passion. This is emo at its best and most unapologetic. It’s sad, it’s angry, and it’s made with love that is apparent in the care that was put into this EP.
Rob, Dennis, and Nick have stirred an album together that incorporates everything classic midwest emo needs, but they keep it fresh and don’t let the EP sound copycat or stagnant. In fact, the lyrics are a break from much of the heavy, angsty music we loved as teens. Yes, there’s anger, suicidal thoughts, and disappointment on this album, but there’s also love, self-examination, and growth. You won’t find any misogynistic tropes that have become familiar in a lot of emo and pop punk lyrics. Billow captures anger without being vindictive. The first song on the EP, “Dino Tee” is refreshing in its honesty and examination of the ordinary in a relationship, and adds sweetness to the sadness.
Sonically, “Wrecks” is solid. The guitars provide a thick, grungy wall of sound that envelops the listener in crunchy, gain-y goodness. Cymbals ping, the snare snaps, and the kick thumps. The mix has a lot of lovely low-fi sounds, but is also recorded clean. Every sound has a spot where it lives, and one can hear every little thing that’s going on. There aren’t a whole lot of textures, this is straightforward bass, guitar, drum rock, but it’s refreshing and well done.
You can listen to and download “Wrecks” here:
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