Manchester Punk Festival Releases 37th Compilation
Manchester Punk Festival have released the 37th volume of their compilation series ahead of this year’s festival. Manchester Punk Festival Vol. 37 is…
Once more tackling a hard-hitting theme head on with a razor-sharp blend of fuzzy guitars, driving riffs and gritty rock melodies, We Are Machines arrives as Berries announce the release of their first cohesive full-length album, How We Function, that will be released on the 8th July via Xtra Mile Recordings. Tracing the thread of guttural garage-rock that ran through earlier single, Wall of Noise, but lacing it with a more infectious sort of optimism, We Are Machines blends jagged noise-driven instrumentals with a rhythmic guitar riff and catchy, convulsing melodies that wriggle in the head long after the track has come to a close. The track itself grapples with the struggles we as humans face in a society hell-bent on dehumanising individuals.
“It is a song about struggling in a demanding society and being exploited by people who have little empathy or concern for your well-being. The song touches on how we are forced to become machines, trying to maintain an impossible level of perfection and how we need to fight against this. Admitting we are only human and finding the strength to stand up and push for balance and rights. In turn, becoming a different type of machine.”
With its expert alloy of barbed guitar lines, polished yet anarchic and densely layered rhythms and melodious vocals, We Are Machines is a skillful second glimpse into Berries’ forthcoming debut full length, an album ostensibly about mental health struggles and the resounding empowerment of overcoming and learning to live thoroughly with them. Of the new record songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Holly explains: “The album is about strength and growth, and recognising the dark times and how you get over them. We’ve got over a lot of mental health struggles, but we wanted the album to have an empowering vibe to it as well. This is our journey to growth. Mental health is not a shadow over what you’re doing — this is really healthy and we can talk about this stuff.”
You can stream We Are Machines here and pre-order / add / save How We Function here