New York’s Guhts (pronounced guts) caught my attention with the cover artwork of their debut album Regeneration. Like Deafheaven’s Sunbather classic, Guhts have decided to go for a garish shade of pink that belies the dark tones of their atmospheric post-metal. Influenced by the likes of Gojira, Cult of Luna, YOB and Deftones, this is indeed a firm statement of intent from the band who consist of vocalist Amber Gardner, Scott Prater (guitar), Brian Clemens (drums) and Daniel Martinez (bass).
Opening track ‘White Noise’ blends scorching guitars with a menacing piano that adds a veneer of peril. Little pinches of My Bloody Valentine warped guitars make for a sickening sway. Amber’s anguished howls are reminiscent of Nymphs’ front woman Inger Lorre. Indeed, the band’s sounds is not a million miles away from that under rated band’s disturbing tones. As the song grinds to a tumultuous finale, the piano returns and the guitars and drums surge with a choppy intensity. ‘Til Death’ slithers along like a hungry snake, a vicious underbelly of grinding sludgy guitars fused with a swirling psych outer skin. The dark dirge is relentless until it comes to a merciful and abrupt halt.
‘The Mirror’ is practically soothing compared to the previous tracks as it tumbles along on a languid plateau of distorted guitars and elegant piano. Of course, the track does eventually lurch into a heft when the guitars fire up and Brian’s drums become more of an attack than a prop. ‘Handless Maiden’ features a more propulsive groove over an incessant string stab. When Amber joins in her vocals are enraged howls making for an uncompromising and brutal aural assault. ‘Eyes Open’ stomps initially with a chain-gang wallop of a beat with chugging guitars before slipping into something more slinky. Then it settles into a swirling section of shoegazey guitars and a spiralling piano.
Finally a moment of respite comes with the gentle flourishes of ‘Generate’ which is built on an ethereal swirl of synths as the distortion takes a back seat and Amber sounds vulnerable for once before caustically warning that “you never listen, I’m floating in between the spaces in the shade of light”. The layers of guitars and synths swell to seismic waves of brilliant noise bringing the album’s best moments as Amber yelps with rage as the song blasts to its finish. ‘The Wounded Healer’ ends the album with a down-tempo dirge of doom laden bass and synths. As the epic 9-minute finale winds to closure the track shifts into a melancholic passage that brings in some black metal elements over Amber’s heart-breaking melodies. It’s a bleak end to an album that belies the bright pink hues of the cover art, this is not an easy listen.
If you weren’t in a certain mood before you sit down to listen to this album, you will be by its closure. Guhts don’t try to elevate their sound much once they establish their early blueprint of grinding doom/sludge. The piano absolutely enhances what they’re doing, bringing a much-needed shade of light and melody to the monotonous waves of distortion and blackened atmosphere. I think there’s more to come from the band, the artwork and elements of melody suggest a wider vision in the long-term. For now, Regeneration is a challenging and worthy debut.
