Imperial Wax were formed in 2018 by guitarist Pete Greenway, drummer Keiron Melling and bassist Dave Spurr, formerly known as the last and longest serving line up of The Fall. They were invited by Damo Sazuki to join him as “Sound Carriers” for a one-off performance at the White Hotel in Salford. Rekindling their necessity for music, they set about searching for a vocalist. After a chance encounter at a pub in Colne and a lengthy conversation about the future of Imperial Wax, they decided to team up with Sam Curran, guitarist and vocalist from Leeds based punk band Black Pudding. Once Dave decided to leave the band in 2019 the obvious choice was to recruit another former black puddinger Shane Standrill on bass. They follow the release of their debut album ‘Gastwerk Saboteurs’ in 2019, this month, with their new album ‘Tranquilliser’. Now very much a band in their own right, they draw on the lessons they learnt from Mark E Smith and have evolved into a visceral, expressive fusion of garage rock and post-punk.
The album kicks off with `Less I Need` a primeval rhythmic churning slice of forceful post punk meets garage rock with lyrics that are spat out rather than shared. A real marker for what`s to come. Guitarist and vocalist Sam Curran has shared that `No Control` is a cathartic piece of self-analysis about taking people for granted and actions undertaken when alcohol has been imbibed. All shared over a grinding thumping enticing slice of garage rock.
`Burning In The Water` has a kind of resonating guitar riff which give it a slight retro vibe with vocals that seem quite apprehensive but at the same time reflective. The pace hots up in the last sixty seconds as it races to a conclusion with a yelp along the way. Is `St. Cavell` a Saint?? I couldn`t find a reference to one on the web but on this fast paced anarcho-punk composition that may instead be a metaphor of bravery indicating Edith Louisa Cavell, a British nurse who treated wounded soldiers from both sides in the First World War without discrimination and helped Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium and return to active service. She was sentenced to death by firing squad and while not canonised is commemorated on the 12th October each year.
There does seem to be a refinement in how `Civilised Descent` is presented. A song that hesitates at times as it progresses with some grinding guitar chord riffs and a pulsing drum beat leading us along. We enjoy a much more laid back reflective musing on `Through My Hands` although the last ninety seconds really bursts into life before reigning itself in again.
Title track `Tranquilliser` is a fairly thumping meditative anthemic offering and does allow one to feel fairly relaxed and calm as you would, if you had been tranquillised or sedated. For me, `Midas Touch` races along at full pelt and while the title refers to an uncanny ability for making money in every venture this appears to be a veiled dig at somebody or something who has a similar knack or talent.
`Silence` is the last thing this number exudes, a fairly scowling track that stops and starts as it evolves, possibly to refuel on further controlled wrath. While a leucotomy is now a discredited form of neurosurgical treatment, `Post Lobotomy` may be more about the monotony of life and having too much time and too little to do.
The album closes out with `Under Your Wings` and there`s a kind of swagger about it which may well be about finding your own way in life. A more restrained but none the less, an utterly potent listen.
Garage rock, post-punk as Credit to the Nation once said “call it what you want” this is a superb forty odd minutes of at times rage and anger but shared in a fairly intoxicating combination or mix.
I`m sure once you`ve heard Imperial Wax`s ‘Tranquilliser’ they`ll be no need for any other opiate in your life.
Rating 8.5/10
