Photo by Farris Simmons
Sweet Unrest have shared a brand new tune, ‘All The Same’, released in the wake of the London five-piece’s recent US tour. Noisy and fuzzy, they romp through their Gritpop sound. A foundation of driving guitars, energetic drums and a fantastic bassline charges at walls and breaks them down. The raspy and unique vocal style of Jack River is equally as lively as the backdrop, but more commanding with a biting, confident delivery.
It begins with a bright, simple but soaring lead guitar and an underbelly of distorted and more raucous guitars and bass. The drums clatter onto the mix, sparking the ignition before all elements hold back in the verse and let the vocal take centre stage. As the verse progresses, the momentum builds again, opening the door to a boisterous chorus with more vocal layers and the wall of rhythm instruments re-emerging. This push and pull continues until the bridge finds a happy medium, layers and noise settle into a moment more atmospheric, before once again we are unleashed into a guitar solo and the top line at its most ferocious.
Jack shares a comment, “Scathing anti-romance diss track that calls out manipulators. What the straw on the camel’s back sounds like. The sonic straw on the camel’s back. Jaded, cynical take on relationships. A one-sided argument, a barrage against anyone who’s trying to change you. It’s a response to reaching your wits’ end when someone is constantly trying to change you. Not holding back on the humour or the character, it makes light of the stupid kind of arguments couples can have. It’s a response to someone trying to get you to settle down, shape you or change you. It’s about affirming yourself in the face of someone who doesn’t respect you. Fighting fire with fire. The twist in the song is that in the bridge, I acknowledge that we’re really all as bad as each other. WE’RE all the same, and all have the capacity to be as insufferable as each other. The pointed fingers retract and point at the singer.”
Debuting with a self-titled EP in 2023, the band have had festival appearances, opener slots and a bi-weekly residency. Tastemaker attention across radio and press, selling out their first vinyl release and now recording at Abbey Road, it’s been a fast rise, and there’s no sign of slowing down.
Listen here:
