Murgatroyd E.P. – Review. Since spawning in a vat of nuclear waste back in 2015, Invercargill based Murgatroyd have developed a solid reputation for putting on a fiercely engaging live show. Murder eyes and anguished screams aside, the two-piece boast some solid musical chops onstage.
Jordan Cossill’s thick and otherworldly guitars are the perfect foil to Matt Hoffman’s soaring vocals and brutal backbeat. The uninitiated might hear a nod to the likes of Mike Patton, Jesus Lizard, Killing Joke, and (dare I say it) Tool. But on closer scrutiny, you’ll hear something far more original than that casual comparison. So what happens when a band like Murgatroyd goes into the studio?
How do they cope when severed from their audience’s umbilical and thrust before the unblinking and oppressive red recording light? Can they accurately translate their live dynamic into a recorded form? You know what, yes they can. And I can confirm it’s bloody good. Everything about this limited edition E.P. looks great.
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From the sleeve’s custom paint job to the sparse and effective graphic design. However more importantly is how the recorded music stacks up. The opening track, “Season for Bastards”, transports the listener into the front row of a Murgatroyd gig, sacrificing them to the building guitar lines and methodical musical pummeling.
Hoffman’s vocals are on point, ranging from highly controlled vibrato to guttural screams as he vents his frustrations on the listener. “The season for bastards is upon us… don’t go home empty-handed”. It sounds like the perfect anti-anthem for Christmas shopping/shoppers. “Whitewash” smashes in with an up-tempo slightly demented vibe that promptly morphs into a dark and menacing groove. Lyrically the song feels almost like a dystopian take on racial discrimination, the line “the dust in the air is mostly human skin” really sets the scene for the listener’s journey.
Next is “Luminous Paw”, a live favourite (possibly about nocturnal lycanthropic activities?) that translates exceptionally well on the recording. Cossill’s serpentine riff played through an octave pedal evolves subtly throughout the song, adding some great musicality to complement Hoffman’s vocals. The last track on the E.P., “Laughter in the Next Room” is an #electroscum epic.
The introduction utilizes feedback and dissonance to support a paranoid, tense, and frantic lyrical setting. The middle section of guitar loops and understated feedback melodies creates an intensely atmospheric bed for an emotionally disturbing tale of narcotic despair.
The song crashes in for a powerful grand finale of heavy riffs and powerful vocals. All in all, an extremely well written, performed, recorded, mixed and mastered release. Murgatroyd should be world famous. Go get their album from BandCamp, Little Fire Musicworks and DEATH RAY Records (or message their FB page) and make them sign your copy when you go see them play next.
Reviewed by ELEMENTNZ: MURGATROYD E.P. – Written and performed by Matt Hoffman and Jordan Cossill. Recorded and mixed by Robert Stirling Falconer. Mastered by Thomas Bell.
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