Review: Viaduct ‘Wake’

Earlier this year, before the resurrection of The Sleeping Shaman, three renowned members of the UK post-rock scene entered Campbell Road Studio with producer Scott Rowe to put together a project that would surface as the UK basked in the hot July sunshine.

Viaduct ‘Wake’

James Parker (Guitar & Vocals), Stuart Mills (Drums & Vocals) and Olly Thomas (Bass) have all played together in the criminally underappreciated Gorse, Yeast and worked separated in notable bands like Hey Colossuss, Gilamonster and Gerda Blank. Here they reunite under the unassuming banner of Viaduct.

Wake is a four track EP that sees the members celebrating their influences as its thick with discordant vocal harmonies, taught muscular rhythm work and spacey, light indie shoegaze.

Over the course of the release the band flex their creative powers and the heady rush of music has a distinct nineties alternative/grunge feel that ranges from the harder edge of the title track with its angular guitar accents to the dark pulsing bass and dusty drumming of Salvage.

Those who have indulged in a steady diet of alternative rock from both sides of the pond will find familiar tropes and touchstones of the genre with its moments of melancholy, dark urgency and sublime, airy movements of elation but given a distinctly British punk twist.

Over the course of the release the band flex their creative powers and the heady rush of music has a distinct nineties alternative/grunge feel

This short sample of the band’s potential hints at much, on Path Of Least Resistance the lone vocal and guitar introduction gives way to a powerfully emotional turn that brims with passion strained vocals, making it a stand out that shows the band have much more to deliver should they choose to.

Wake is definitely a call back to the band members musical DNA, handled with the dexterity that you would expect from their previous outings, even Parker’s own 2017 solo effort Dormansland (in itself a hugely powerful album that desperately needs to be heard by more people).

Viaduct have plenty of potential and plenty of ability. Wake merely dips a toe in the water and is a good taster of what they could do with enough time and ambition. It’s well worth taking the time out to listen to them.

Viaduct play the Pipeline in Brighton on the 13th November.

Label: Self Released
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp

Scribed by: Mark Hunt-Bryden