Away from the more straightforward garage-rock style of The Strokes, Julian Casablancas has used The Voidz to indulge in the sort of experiments that wouldn’t light a fire under his main band. Not that everyone has been on board with this approach, however. When their debut ‘Tyranny’ arrived in 2014, reviews were somewhat mixed — it was either unlistenable or refreshingly eclectic, depending on who you asked.
Ten years later, the LA-based five-piece have delivered ‘Like All Before You’, another Marmite record whose refusal to be boxed in is either a charm or a hindrance depending on your perspective.
Their third LP contains a melting pot of ideas largely borrowed from ‘80s electronica and rock, with Square Wave beginning under the steam of Cure-esque guitars, wonderfully merging a jangle-pop riff with robotic vocals.
Prophecy of the Dragon then sounds like a different band entirely, throwing in unexpected metal guitars from the world of Van Halen. While the track initially forces head scratching and confusion, it at least jumps out as one to be reckoned with.
Ballad Spectral Analysis changes things up again. Meditative pianos are contrasted with ominous lyrics (“Give the humans what they want / Some music for them to blow their brains out to”) and a subtle undercurrent of unease in line with the haunting genius of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke.
By the midpoint, the album’s whiplash approach has become familiar and it’s easier to enjoy the ride. Flexorcist fuses glittering New Order-inspired synths with funky guitars for a breezy earworm, while trippy sci-fi vibes underpin Perseverance-1C2S. When Will The Time of These Bastards End later plays out like a Halloween drama, finishing things up with ominous riffs and theatrical vocals.
The constant disregard for consistency on ‘Like All Before You’ won’t be for everyone. But, for those who eventually find themselves on board, its unpredictability and creativity are very much part of the charm.
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