The Horrors review, Lout: New EP shows the band are still finding new ways to evolve
Self-produced project sees the band diverting away from pop to embrace a full-on industrial aesthetic
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.You wouldn’t expect a mid-2000s indie-rock relic act to keep evolving their sound – and do it successfully at that. And yet, here we are: The Horrors, who showed up in 2007 as a goth-rock foil to dance club standard-bearers Bloc Party (think: if Trent Reznor fronted Joy Division) are still finding new ways to evolve.
Their latest EP, Lout, is only three songs long, but even in under 15 minutes, the short-player packs a wallop. The self-produced project finds The Horrors diverting from the more pop-minded V (2017) and embracing a full-on industrial aesthetic. The hard-driving title track is a pounding cacophony of chugging guitars, distorted vocals, and reverb-heavy beats. Follow-up “Org” amps up the electronic elements, feeding all manner of atonal sound through a mad array of effects (but miraculously never losing the beat). Ironically, closer “Whiplash” is a little more mid-tempo, but it thuds and shatters the eardrums with no less efficacy.
The Horrors’ ability to keep churning out exciting new additions to their already expansive catalogue (years after anyone expects them to) is impressive in itself. But the idea of witnessing Lout live after the pandemic is finished with us? That’s just another reason to anticipate whatever else the group has in store for the roaring 2020s.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments