Review: Next Day Shakes
Across these three tracks, Next Day Shakes demonstrate something increasingly difficult to find - identity. There are plenty of influences buried within their music, but they're already beginning to sound distinctly like themselves.
REVIEWS
8/31/20263 min read
After a few weeks of summer shutdown, Band Assist is back - and we've returned to a huge pile of new music to get through. If you've submitted something recently, please bear with us. As ever, we promise we'll get to you.
First out of the blocks are Next Day Shakes, a four-piece rock band hailing from Aberdare who fuse blues, alternative grit and what they brilliantly describe as "shed rock". Thunderous riffs, pounding drums and raw, blues-soaked vocals form the foundations, but as these three tracks demonstrate, there's considerably more happening beneath the surface.
First up is Bad Move, which crashes into life before racing away like a runaway locomotive.
There are hints of The Temperance Movement mixed with flashes of 90's indie rock, but Next Day Shakes bring a darker, grittier edge that gives the track its own personality. There's an underlying punk ethic too - not necessarily in the sound itself, but in the attitude and authenticity of the performance.
The song simply powers forward.
An infectious melodic line sits alongside a superb guitar hook that will lodge itself firmly in your head, while the layers underneath reveal just how much thought has gone into the arrangement.
Then, at around the three-minute mark, everything changes.
The band deliver one of the best breakdowns and middle eights we've heard this year before launching into an outstanding guitar solo. Technically it is impressive, but far more importantly, it is absolutely drenched in emotion. Every note adds something rather than simply showcasing ability.
The whole thing steadily rises towards a huge crescendo before one final chorus brings us home.
What a start.
Reverie immediately takes us somewhere considerably darker.
There's an unmistakable nod towards doom metal and the mighty Black Sabbath in its opening moments before Next Day Shakes gradually increase the pace and return to that driving momentum they're quickly making their trademark.
This time the vocals and lyrics take more of the spotlight, guiding us down a darker path while guitar hooks and hard-hitting drums prevent the track from becoming weighed down by its own atmosphere.
It's a brilliant juxtaposition.
Something else becomes increasingly apparent here too - the relationship between the guitars and vocals is exceptional.
This isn't simply a vocalist singing over a collection of chords. The guitar lines almost communicate with the vocal, responding to melodies and filling spaces to create an interplay that makes the entire song considerably more engrossing.
It's clever songwriting without ever sounding like clever songwriting.
And just when you think the track has settled into its direction, the final drop throws another curveball. Next Day Shakes clearly have very little interest in taking the obvious route, and they're a considerably more exciting band because of it.
Finally, we have their new single Far Too Long.
An intricate guitar line introduces the track before drums and humming vocals gradually add texture. Then the verse arrives and something changes.
There's swagger here.
Not the forced, chest-beating variety either. This is effortless, almost nonchalant confidence. The band lean back into the groove and simply allow the song to breathe.
Then comes that chorus.
It's excellent.
In fact, Far Too Long could easily be the song that takes Next Day Shakes to another level. There's an accessibility here that could open some serious doors without the band compromising anything that makes them interesting.
The vocals, accompanying guitar melody and rock-solid rhythm section work together perfectly. Nothing is overplayed and nothing oversteps its mark. The whole thing just swaggers out of the speakers like it knows exactly how good it is.
Naturally, Next Day Shakes can't resist messing with the formula halfway through.
The track suddenly becomes harder and heavier, but crucially never sacrifices the accessibility established earlier. It's a smart shift that immediately grabs your attention again without feeling like you've suddenly stumbled into another song.
Once again, the guitar work deserves particular praise. It's understated rather than flashy, but loaded with enough emotion and personality to make even the most guitar-indifferent listener's ears prick up.
Across these three tracks, Next Day Shakes demonstrate something increasingly difficult to find - identity. There are plenty of influences buried within their music, but they're already beginning to sound distinctly like themselves. They understand dynamics, they understand melody and, most importantly, they understand that sometimes what you don't play can be every bit as powerful as what you do.
Bad Move is anything but, Reverie shows just how deep they can go, and if we've been waiting Far Too Long for Next Day Shakes to really announce themselves, consider us well and truly shaken.