Japanese Voyeurs “Yolk” - Review

If you like music to be shoved right in your face, then this East London five-piece is one to watch. Aggressive, distorted guitars teamed with a feisty front lady shrieking about topics such as burgers! This debut album is raw and explosive with more than a nod back to 90’s grunge. It should be noted the 90’s theme runs through to the producer, Garth Richardson, who has previously worked with artists such as Rage Against the Machine and Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

After even just a brief listen through, an obvious focal association with the band is dynamics. Lead singer Romily Alice sings sweetly in a demented schoolgirl- like way (“Mummy, mummy have I been a good girl this year?”) and rips into blood curling squeals and howls over the dark, heavy guitar riffs, drawing obvious comparisons to the likes of Daisy Chainsaw and Babes in Toyland. Her vocal may even perhaps seem a bit too familiar and does not really do any favours in helping to shake off the “grunge revival” tag.

However, Romily’s effortless badass flare with lyrics such as “I only wanna be an animal” from “X-Ray Ted” shows other girls around right now how to successfully portray attitude without coming across too try-hard (no names mentioned, Taylor Momsen.)  

The whole album is oozing with catchy riffs and melodies, bringing a pop element to these dark tracks, with memorable hooks and choruses more than tempting to sing along to. The tracks never do things by halves, only opting for the extremes of really loud or really calm in the fashion of The Pixies and Nirvana.

So yeah, maybe their music is more than a slight reference back to 90’s grunge, but if there’s a demand for it, and hey, these guys are currently supporting Slash for God’s sake, then why not? This is living proof of the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mantra if I ever heard it.  

- Harriet Austin