Subject Matter
Paul from Subject Matter recently got in touch to let us know about their album, Smash The Mould, which you can currently get for free from their website, to see what we thought. Always the helpful type, I figured I would have a listen to see what was on offer from this Irish 4 piece, out on a mission to create rock music which is fast and fun, the sort of music that makes you feel awesome!
Opening with Funky Coloured Pitfalls, everything is full of bass, raging guitars and pounding drums from the offset, adopting a simply vocal line of ‘funky coloured pitfalls’ – catchy and fun from the start! Keeping the bass firmly in the mix to be heard, this track straight away sets this album off on a good footing and pulls you in to hear what’s coming up! It’s the sort of track which you can imagine live crowds chanting along to, it’s near on impossible not to even when you listen to it at home! The same can be said for Give It To Me Straight, another track full of hooks and pounding bass rhythms. What I really like about these two tracks is how simple they’ve kept things, there’s no over the top elements which over shadow the rest of the track, they’re just catchy good time rock songs! Drawing comparison, it’s hard to say where these guys would fit, it’s kind of musically like Bush, just faster, but with the catchiness of pop-punk – meaning what you’ve got is a sort of grown up pop-rock-punk mix!
What I Know firmly continues the theme of the album, once again opening with a roaring guitar line before ushering in that pounding bass. Adopting a syncopated beat to things, initially it’s hard to follow exactly where the track is taking you but this soon fades, once again launching in to an anthemic chorus which is sure to get live crowds chanting along and feeding off of the energy of the band. Dressed to Depress on the other hand represents a far calmer moment on the album, opening with an almost Live like guitar line to create a deep sense of emotion through the music. Toned down yet still managing to keep the sound deep, this is almost a moment of reflection after the rocky tracks so far, keeping things calm and laid back. The highlight of this track for me though has to be the little guitar solo which is thrown into the mix, once again its calm and collected with the acoustic guitars, yet it works to elevate the mood of the track.
Old Flames comes in next, building into another crunchy guitar based track which is sure to have people moving along with it. Far funkier this time, there’s a sense of RHCP or Faith No More running through this one in the stylings of the vocals, it grabs your attention and makes you start moving, not becoming overly distorted at any time but keeping everything powerful throughout. The mid section where everything is broken to the drums, bass and vocals is a particular highlight of the track for me, it shows off the skills of the band in their ability to create a track which doesn’t rely on sheer power to get a message through. Death By Monkeys comes in to take the lead from the track, opening with a sludgy guitar line akin to some of the older Saliva stuff, once again firmly setting the track as one which is going to fully succeed on the live scene. Breaking into an almost Rage Against The Machine moment of spat vocals, bass and lead lines, there’s once again a real sense of funkiness through the track, once again getting you moving along with them. Firmly adopting a RATM style, this is a track which I reckon is going to be a success for these guys, it’s a real moment on the album which I know I’ll be coming back to.
As if to throw another contrast into the works, Ground follows the track and launches into a solid hammering rock track, once again firmly basing the mix around the bass line and a chunky guitar riff. Moving from the spat vocals of the previous tracks to a more conventional singing style, this is one which once again has the feeling of a live track to it, it’s the sort of thing you want to see played live, just downright good fun rock music! See Thru Souls continues this theme, once again opening with a pounding drum beat and a solid guitar line before shifting into a verse section of catchy guitar lines and more of that spine tingling bass. Catchy throughout, this is the sort of track which you can imagine receiving a fair amount of radio play, it’s got that restrained sense of distortion which radio audiences lap up. Keep Me With You then almost comes as a shock as once again, everything is laid back and put on an acoustic platform. The lead acoustic line which leads the way into the track is once again moody and evocative, causing you to sit back and simply allowing yourself to be pulled along with the track. More emotional than a lot of the tracks before it, this is one designed to make you think, make you reflect on what you’ve heard so far, and it works.
The Pass At Dark leads us towards the ending of the album, once again opening funky and getting you out of your seat to move along with the band. The spat vocals come back on this track and work well with the guitar line going on, still keeping that bass line firmly in place to be heard. What’s really striking on this track is how the pace is differentiated, it adds a further dimension to things which you can’t help but embrace. Making sure that the mood is kept on the funky side of things, Different Station comes into follow the track, once again opening funky, hammering and downright dirty. This is another live track for sure, amusing lyrics which you don’t quite pick up on at first mean that this is one which people are going to love for sure! Closing the album with O Nani Ama, you’re left with no doubt that this has to be a band to get out there and see. Bass heavy and funky from the outset, this is a hell of a finish to an album which has presented good things from the start.
Subject Matter are one of those bands which I don’t think are going to be huge, but I think they’re going to generate a damned good following and become known for awesome live shows. Their music isn’t conventional, and that’s what I like. You’re kept guessing on every track as to what is going to come next and how they’re going to follow particular moments, the whole time knowing one thing for sure, that it’s going to be good fun! I highly recommend people check this album out for sure, it’s one which is sure to become a soundtrack to some damned good times!
To find out more about Subject Matter, including where to get their album, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Opening with Funky Coloured Pitfalls, everything is full of bass, raging guitars and pounding drums from the offset, adopting a simply vocal line of ‘funky coloured pitfalls’ – catchy and fun from the start! Keeping the bass firmly in the mix to be heard, this track straight away sets this album off on a good footing and pulls you in to hear what’s coming up! It’s the sort of track which you can imagine live crowds chanting along to, it’s near on impossible not to even when you listen to it at home! The same can be said for Give It To Me Straight, another track full of hooks and pounding bass rhythms. What I really like about these two tracks is how simple they’ve kept things, there’s no over the top elements which over shadow the rest of the track, they’re just catchy good time rock songs! Drawing comparison, it’s hard to say where these guys would fit, it’s kind of musically like Bush, just faster, but with the catchiness of pop-punk – meaning what you’ve got is a sort of grown up pop-rock-punk mix!
What I Know firmly continues the theme of the album, once again opening with a roaring guitar line before ushering in that pounding bass. Adopting a syncopated beat to things, initially it’s hard to follow exactly where the track is taking you but this soon fades, once again launching in to an anthemic chorus which is sure to get live crowds chanting along and feeding off of the energy of the band. Dressed to Depress on the other hand represents a far calmer moment on the album, opening with an almost Live like guitar line to create a deep sense of emotion through the music. Toned down yet still managing to keep the sound deep, this is almost a moment of reflection after the rocky tracks so far, keeping things calm and laid back. The highlight of this track for me though has to be the little guitar solo which is thrown into the mix, once again its calm and collected with the acoustic guitars, yet it works to elevate the mood of the track.
Old Flames comes in next, building into another crunchy guitar based track which is sure to have people moving along with it. Far funkier this time, there’s a sense of RHCP or Faith No More running through this one in the stylings of the vocals, it grabs your attention and makes you start moving, not becoming overly distorted at any time but keeping everything powerful throughout. The mid section where everything is broken to the drums, bass and vocals is a particular highlight of the track for me, it shows off the skills of the band in their ability to create a track which doesn’t rely on sheer power to get a message through. Death By Monkeys comes in to take the lead from the track, opening with a sludgy guitar line akin to some of the older Saliva stuff, once again firmly setting the track as one which is going to fully succeed on the live scene. Breaking into an almost Rage Against The Machine moment of spat vocals, bass and lead lines, there’s once again a real sense of funkiness through the track, once again getting you moving along with them. Firmly adopting a RATM style, this is a track which I reckon is going to be a success for these guys, it’s a real moment on the album which I know I’ll be coming back to.
As if to throw another contrast into the works, Ground follows the track and launches into a solid hammering rock track, once again firmly basing the mix around the bass line and a chunky guitar riff. Moving from the spat vocals of the previous tracks to a more conventional singing style, this is one which once again has the feeling of a live track to it, it’s the sort of thing you want to see played live, just downright good fun rock music! See Thru Souls continues this theme, once again opening with a pounding drum beat and a solid guitar line before shifting into a verse section of catchy guitar lines and more of that spine tingling bass. Catchy throughout, this is the sort of track which you can imagine receiving a fair amount of radio play, it’s got that restrained sense of distortion which radio audiences lap up. Keep Me With You then almost comes as a shock as once again, everything is laid back and put on an acoustic platform. The lead acoustic line which leads the way into the track is once again moody and evocative, causing you to sit back and simply allowing yourself to be pulled along with the track. More emotional than a lot of the tracks before it, this is one designed to make you think, make you reflect on what you’ve heard so far, and it works.
The Pass At Dark leads us towards the ending of the album, once again opening funky and getting you out of your seat to move along with the band. The spat vocals come back on this track and work well with the guitar line going on, still keeping that bass line firmly in place to be heard. What’s really striking on this track is how the pace is differentiated, it adds a further dimension to things which you can’t help but embrace. Making sure that the mood is kept on the funky side of things, Different Station comes into follow the track, once again opening funky, hammering and downright dirty. This is another live track for sure, amusing lyrics which you don’t quite pick up on at first mean that this is one which people are going to love for sure! Closing the album with O Nani Ama, you’re left with no doubt that this has to be a band to get out there and see. Bass heavy and funky from the outset, this is a hell of a finish to an album which has presented good things from the start.
Subject Matter are one of those bands which I don’t think are going to be huge, but I think they’re going to generate a damned good following and become known for awesome live shows. Their music isn’t conventional, and that’s what I like. You’re kept guessing on every track as to what is going to come next and how they’re going to follow particular moments, the whole time knowing one thing for sure, that it’s going to be good fun! I highly recommend people check this album out for sure, it’s one which is sure to become a soundtrack to some damned good times!
To find out more about Subject Matter, including where to get their album, check out their Facebook page HERE.
