Album Review: Naked Lungs, Doomscroll

Irish post-punk upstarts don’t come any less compromising than Naked Lungs. Starting with the industrial opener ‘Gack’, it’s evident that they’re not about to pull any punches. It’s an auditory sledgehammer, an amalgamation of post-punk feedback and booming metal drums.

Tracks like ‘Relentless’ and ‘Outcome’ are symphonies of unease, underscoring the band’s mastery of sonic tension, making your skin crawl in the lead up to their brutal breakdowns.

The nasty distorted bassline on ‘Database’ and the glam-rock shredding on ‘Pressure’ confirm that there are enough surprises to keep you hooked in the album’s latter stages.

By the time the epic closer ‘Boo Boo’ arrives, Naked Lungs are daring to show a softer side. The singalong hooks are a welcome break from the piercing guitar that, despite being an integral part of the album’s character, risks sounding monotonous after a while.

Lyrically, Doomscroll is a journey through the quagmire of contemporary life. The unease of joblessness. The weight of societal expectations. These are present and correct. So too is personal resilience, the melange creating a sombre ode to being a modern day twenty-something.

With crisp production from Daniel Fox, the Gilla Band influence is evident, particularly in the first half of the album. But sounding like the iconic Irish band isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and in Doomscroll, Naked Lungs have done more than enough to defy easy categorisation, unapologetically straddling the worlds of post-punk, nu-metal and progressive rock.

It’s time to stop scrolling and take notice. This is a staunchly impressive debut album.

8/10