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Released on April 29, 2016 via Holy Roar Records
The press release for Wren’s four track EP Host sums things up nicely in a single sentence: “To be somewhat horrendously blunt – Wren are somewhat akin to Isis and Cult of Luna if they stopped fucking about, concentrated on huge riffs and listened to The Jesus Lizard and Shellac”. That was enough to interest me since I have to confess (heresy alert!) to occasional impatience while listening to the mellower, ambient passages in Isis or Cult Of Luna.
Wren certainly cut to the chase and opening number ‘Stray’ forces itself upon the listener and commands attention within seconds. Abrupt, dissonant, mid-paced guitar riffs are interspersed with bellowed, belligerent, almost barked vocals. It’s appropriate this release is via Holy Roar. After 6 minutes, the skies clear somewhat and a comparatively uplifting melodic change occurs but this provides only brief respite from the atmosphere of anger.
‘No Seance’ continues in similar vein to ‘Stray’, following a brief bass intro and the music has an almost hypnotic quality which renders individual numbers almost irrelevant. ‘Ossuary’ and ‘Loom’ complete what is a strong release that builds effectively on the band’s 2014 debut self-titled EP.
Neurosis provide a fair comparison for those seeking reference points while the guitar tone, vocal style and atmosphere is reminiscent of noise-rock veterans Unsane. Indeed, there is a strong sense that Wren is a band influenced by outfits that have been in existence for decades rather than years. Overall then, it’s a thumbs up from me and gratitude that Wren choose to dispense with the fucking about and go straight for the jugular.
