I never understand the hand wringing when a band shows growth, as if its members are supposed to regurgitate the same sounds over and over again. Sure, that might add to the comfort level of some people in their audience, and there are times when expansion muddies the waters, but who wants to see an artist painted into a corner? As long as what they’re doing is genuine, the change and expanse can be exciting.
“Regeneration” is the new record from Guhts, and its inspiration comes from that idea of change and growth, pushing oneself to find the areas that truly bring contentment and happiness. There’s a noted difference from 2021’s eye-opening debut “Blood Feather,” as this music is more involved, darker, doomier, and certainly more emotional. The band—vocalist Amber Gardner, guitarist Scott Prater, bassist Daniel Martinez, drummer Brian Clemens—now operates deeper in similar territories as bands such as Battle of Mice, A Storm of Light, and King Woman, but with their own stamp tattooed into that sound. This is a massive step forward, a record that’ll throttle you mentally and emotionally, but at its core is that acceptance of regenerating and finding exciting new life.
“White Noise” starts with noise moaning and Gardner’s singing immediately enrapturing. Doomy and breathy, the track moves through mystery until the bottom drops, heavy and sludgy playing darkening moods. “This is far, I will own you,” Gardner calls, and even moments of softness act as harbingers for the thrust of thorns. Tornadic singing swells, the playing gets heavier and sludgier, and the ferocity peaks and leaves dried blood. “Til Death” simmers in programmed beats before laying down the hammer, Gardner’s singing floating amid a doom stream. Elegance and smokiness unite, and then the bludgeoning lands harder, the singing scars, and the power disappears in the clouds. “The Mirror” soaks in glimmering keys and warm leads as the singing slinks, Garnder calling and repeating, “Your life is not your own.” Synth sheen brightens as the playing picks up the heat, emotion pulsates, and the final moments smear pain and sorrow.
“Handless Maiden” pummels as strings agitate, and gazey ferocity spreads. “Eyes adorned, eye to eye, turn men into pigs, milk white against black sky, swallow my fist,” Gardner calls as the mud and noise collect, calculating heaviness grows, and the power dissolves into a thick fog. “Eyes Open” basks in feedback and then drudging playing, the singing swelling under red and ominous skies. Keys rain down as the singing swirls in psychosis, muddy guitars bash, every element stretches and confounds before disappearing into smoke. “Generate” opens gently with soulful singing, Garden calling, “Minds full of mazes, pressure never laid, memories bouncing back and forth in your head.” The darkness envelops as sorrow swells on the chorus, Gardner singing, “You’re never listening, I’m floating in between the spaces in the shade of light.” The guitars pick up as the vocals sting harder, the pace elevates, and the weight of everything makes its impact, bruising and finally simmering away. Closer “The Wounded Healer” has echoes chiming, deeper singing, and gazey moodiness hanging overhead. Suddenly, shrieks gut, the playing grows vicious and desperate, and a steamy haze overtakes your mind. “My heart, silence my heart,” Gardner pleads, the mood thickening and crawling through darkness, trying to numb your open wounds. “Lay down your sorrow, lay down your pride,” Gardner wails as the spirits bask in shadows, ending with a gasp of desperation.
“Regeneration” pulls at the parts of your psyche that continually try to find the path that’s most hopeful and giving, attempting to find the place you always belonged, be that physical or mental. Or both. Guhts as a band is gravitating toward their fuller form, and this record shows monumental growth and dexterity from artists that already were making pretty powerful music. This album swells with muscle and emotion, the words cut to the bone, and the result is a group of artists moving closer to their truth and doing so in an incredibly impactful, sonically moving manner.
For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/guhtsband
To buy the album (U.S.), go here: https://seeingredrecords.8merch.us/
Or here (U.K.): https://cargorecordsdirect.co.uk/products/guhts-regeneration
For more on the label, go here: https://www.seeingredrecords.com/
And here: https://www.newheavysounds.com/
Meat Mead Metal 