We might’ve dropped the ball on the last release from Richmond, Virginian duo Roseneath (And that’s not to say we didn’t review it… we just reviewed it late) but are making sure we get in (slightly) early with their upcoming full-length, Nowhere Safe, which drops on June 16th through Trepanation Recordings and Thirty Something Records.
For the uninformed and uninitiated, Roseneath rawks. Is that enough to pique your interest? No? Okay, well howzabout you take all your favorite Post-Alternative Grunge acts of the ’90’s, throw them in a studio together for a week, then bask in the glow of what’s produced. That’s Roseneath in a nutshell. Piggybacking off of 2022’s Shine EP, Nowhere Safe barely skips a beat if you take that album’s self-titled closing track and let it seamlessly flow into “Noisy” which opens the new full-length with a blast, coming right out of the gates swinging as staccato riffs and drum beats proceed to rip it up as Jason Roberts’ unmistakable voice, ahem, shines over the propulsive noise.
“Free Fall” is another that boasts a lush chorus from Roberts with Brian George adding some extra heft on the guitars while “Burned To Black” shares some DNA with both The Cure’s “Lovesong” and The Sisters Of Mercy’s “Lucretia My Reflection” before moving into more familiar Roseneath Alternative crunch territory. Speaking of crunch, “Passerby” has that in excess with “Numb” coming in all powerful yet downtrodden like the bestest Soundgarden or Alice In Chains jams of the early ’90’s. Comparatively, “Over It” practically glistens with a synth-y hum added to the sonic structure which sits well outside the comfort zone but maybe within the boundaries of this ever expanding outfit.
“Not Lost” is a stomper through and through and the epitome of what “Nu-Grunge” should sound like, “Roll Credits” boasts an airy Roberts vocal performance that practically floats over the gnarly riffage laid out, and “This Alone” is rich in the riff department as melodies soar. Want some out of left field sounds to really drive Nowhere Safe home? Then look no further than the futuristic Electro Rawk of “Spill” with its’ playful piano sounds and lavish synth atmosphere propelled forth by steady programmed beats, wailing guitars by Roberts and George and another spectacularly sanguine vocal turn from Roberts to end the album.
Nowhere Safe arrives on June 16th through Thirty Something Records for your digital and vinyl needs with Trepanation Recordings handling CD and cassette versions. You can pre-order, yes pre-order because we got to this one early, by visiting the links listed out for you here. For more from Roseneath, follow them across the interwebs by clicking here.