Rating: NNNN
Leeds’s Eagulls play doom-and-gloom music informed in part by anxiety, decomposing brains and graduating college with shit options ahead of them. They’re disenchanted with the future and aren’t afraid to complain about the present: see the incendiary open letter they wrote about their experience at last year’s SXSW.
The young five-piece set their anger to gothic-tinged widescreen post-punk that incorporates swirling 90s shoegaze. But while it might be dour, it never gets bleak or mopey. It’s delivered with too much energy for that. Nerve Endings and Possessed coast along on hooky reverby guitar lines, hardcore rhythms and fast-moving song structures.
Singer/lyricist George Mitchell sings clean and fairly melodically, but with convincing disaffection. He’s also known to walk offstage unexpectedly, which happened as recently as two weeks ago in Denver. Here’s hoping fans get full sets at their debut Toronto shows.
Top track: Possessed
Eagulls play Yonge-Dundas Square and Edward Day Gallery on Friday (June 20), and Lee’s Palace on Saturday (June 21) as part of NXNE.
