So you’re telling us that not only we get a new Therapy? record in 2023 but also a whole ‘nother thing with Andy Cairns as the vocalist? And they both get released in the same month?? Are you kidding??? Once the initial shock of that revelation has worn off and you’ve started to come down from your Therapy? Hard Cold Fire high (Their 16th overall which you can check it out here), you can now safely dive into JAAW who is spearheaded by the aforementioned Cairns and Jason Stoll (Mugstar, Sex Swing) with Wayne Adams (Petbrick, Death Pedals) and Adam Betts (Squarepusher, Goldie) also on board.
We’re not sure we ever had “Andy Cairns fronts Godflesh-type Industrial project” on our “Bands of the ’90’s Bingo Card” but we’ll take the spot regardless. Although, if you go back to early Therapy? records, and Nurse in particular, those leanings were always there in songs like “Deep Sleep” and “Teethgrinder” so it’s not an entirely surprising turn as brash opening statement “Thoughts And Prayers (Mean Nothing)” comes to life loudly and fastly with the guy who snarled his way through “Knives” delivering a similarly killer vocal performance.
“Reality Crash” is reminiscent of early Ministry if Gibby Haynes or Jello Biafro were at the helm full-time, “Rot” is just this droning Industrial cacophony from start to finish, and “Total Protonic Reversal” keeps that vibe going by bringing some loud, fast, and heavy blasts between bouts of atmospheric bass-heavy noise in a Godflesh vein courtesy of Stoll. “Bring Home the Motherlode, Larry” serves as the tentpole in the middle of this whole noisy shebang with an almost 9-minute examination on sustained heaviness. If ever there was a track on here that’s the go-to when asked “Well, what does JAAW sound like?”, it’d be this one.
On the flippity flip, “Hellbent on Happiness” is a complete 180 with two minutes of feverish frenzy as Cairns’ manic mode mixes with Adams’ own effects-laden vox and then “The Dead Drop” comes in reminiscent of some of Misery Loves Co.’s later more experimental gems with a thumping primal percussion courtesy of Betts countering the more lush vocal lines. Yearning for a more Therapy?-like sound? Then go pick up the aforementioned Cold Hard Fire… or stick around until the end with JAAW’s take on Bjork’s “Army Of Me” that’s probably the closest you’ll get to anything sounding like Cairns’ other band with some inspired drumming and an incessant buzz present throughout.
Supercluster is unleashed on May 26th through Svart. You can pre-order your copy now by heading here or here for all your pre-save/digital options. For the latest from JAAW, follow the trail of socials when you click here or here.