Gouge Away is back since their pandemic hiatus with their first album since 2018. The hardcore band out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, split ways to pursue different things in life. It seems that their break brought the band members together newly inspired, pulling from different influences as they push their sound beyond the realm of traditional hardcore. They teamed up with legendary producer Jack Shirley, who has previously worked with Deafheaven, Jeff Rosenstock, and Gulch, to put together an album that is energetic, and well-rounded with post-hardcore, indie, and shoegaze songs mixed in with their old sound. Many more traditionally hardcore bands, most notably being Turnstile, have explored new sounds while paying homage to their roots and Gouge Away is no exception. This has pissed off a certain segment of hardcore fans as bands move away from their old sound but honestly who cares.
Deep Sage tackles a lot of themes that were prevalent during the pandemic and relate to life on the road. As time goes by it starts to feel more like some part of our imagination but songs like “Stuck in a Dream” bring me back to a time when every day blended together and where all were pushed to our mental limits. It really speaks to a place of complete and total burnout with no escape. One of their softer songs, “A Welcome Change,” pulls you in multiple directions and is a reminder that sometimes no change at all is the change you need the most. The second half of the album brings out their heavier sound combining frequent heavy riffs and powerful, driven vocals. From the second half of the album No Release and The Sharpening are more reminiscent of their sound on Burnt Sugar.
Gouge Away played to a sold out Cobra Lounge and their show was worth the long wait. The crowd was surprisingly tame for a hardcore show and the band picked up on it pretty quick, switching to their faster songs after starting with a few of their more indie/shoegazey inspired tracks. Christina Michelle’s vocals were amazing relaying the passion and emotion that went into every lyric while waves of fuzzy guitar riffs oppressed the crowd.
Gumm played the middle set. Admittedly I haven’t had my finger on the pulse with hardcore bands outside of the Midwest but I need to expand my listening map because Gumm crushed. Based out of Chattanooga TN, Gumm is fresh off of their most recent album “Slogan Machine”. Their new music is laced with heavy break beats and thoughtful lyrics that dissect current the current political culture that treats politics as a religion. “Give You Back Your Youth” speaks to me as an introspection, begging to go back to a time when we were could be free before the weight of societal realities crushed our youthful innocence. They brought a good element to the set list with their brand of melodic hardcore.
Opening the night was local Chicago shoe-gaze breakouts Smut. Smut has been around nearly a decade but has made waves in the local scene as they count down to the release of their second album Tomorrow Comes Crashing set to release on June 27. They were a perfect opener setting the tone for the rest of the show with their punchy, distortion driven riffs and Tay Roebuck’s clean, echoey vocals reminiscent of a 90’s Slowdive-esq sound. You can catch Smut on their upcoming tour with SPELLING.
