Album Review: Coilguns – Everything We Love, We Destroy (Humus Records)

Swiss noise-rock collective Coilguns return with their fifth studio album, ‘Everything We Love, We Destroy’, due out November 6th via Humus Records.

As forthright and brilliantly opinionated as ever, filtering what they want to say through expressive noise that defies genres, and showcasing a lot of developed dynamism, Coilguns are back with bullish intent, a notable sense of impatience, and a clear desire to snap the listener out of a stupor that comes from the torrent of real-world bulls**t.

Sometimes they can be right on the nose, and there’s nothing wrong with that, as the title track proves. Written to mark the tenth anniversary of the Paris Climate Accords, and the worldwide inaction since, the noise rockers are on fine form as this track comes with plenty of experimental intensity. Yet it also takes on a bit of an indie rock form, twisted by its sobering message, bursts of fiery energy, and no small amount of weirdness.

A weirdness that permeates the entire album and gives it a uniqueness that makes the following Peace Trader, Replication Crisis, Platform Decay, and Punisher Disclaimer so very compelling. You’ll hear emphatic and hefty noise rock, but you’ll also experience unexpected layers of emotion, expressive drama, and uncomfortable, tension-based vibes. Even when melody is the focal point, Coilguns refuse to allow the listener to sit still or relax. Much of which comes from a rawer instrumental tone and how ‘in your face’ the vocals are.

What we have here is an album that you’ll find yourself sitting and thinking about long afterwards. Taking it all in and letting it simmer before hitting play again. Something made so much easier when something as direct as Days Before the War comes along.

Following that morose piece of unflinching honesty, Coilguns hit a bold new kind of infectious vulnerability with the brilliant Teach Ourselves. A track that descends into chaos but does so in earnest fashion. Coilguns do nothing by half, and a track like this embodies how in control they are of everything they do. Even when, in the case of the likes of Carbon Magic, Forever Chemicals, and Perfect Fit Container, their eccentricities threaten to overtake them.

Unconventional, of course, but also so diverse. This entire album can be summed up as Coilguns stripped back, but also pushing themselves further than ever before. This results in an album that truly does challenge, but not in any kind of negative way. Once again, Coilguns create an electrifying experience that is like nothing else they’ve done. Sit with it, let it sink in, lose yourself to it, and it will change you.

Coilguns – Everything We Love, We Destroy Track Listing:

1. Everything We Love, We Destroy
2. Peace Trader
3. Replication Crisis
4. Platform Decay
5. Punisher Disclaimer
6. Days Before the War
7. Teach Ourselves
8. Carbon Magic
9. Forever Chemicals
10. Perfect Fit Content

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