Album Review: Litterbug – Abstract Melodies Saying Terrible Things

Litterbug are a three piece that play, their own version of straight edge melodic/non melodic punk, but with plenty of influence from the past and maybe even the future, from the Blackpool area of the UK.  

With Stuart (Guitar/Vocal), Toby (Drums/Vocal) and Andy (Bass/Vocal) they are certainly not afraid to push boundaries when it comes to lyrical content. 

“This Album has a pretentious sounding title, but is based around non semblance.  It’s been 18 months in the making, rather creating new songs and adding older unreleased material”

This is Litterbug’s fourth full length in around 9 years, all the previous releases have been carefully considered and crafted, in the same vein this is not a throw away album, for want of a better analogy, “thinking mans punk” comes to mind, not that there isn’t plenty of this around, but can there ever be too much?  Throw away, background music always has its place in the world, but for this kind of thought provoking, socially conscious music, life would be one long party, and there is nothing wrong with this, but as we know parties don’t always end well.

So what do we get within this 16 tracks, well for the opening song “Push It Away” you get in a nutshell Litterbug at their best, a wonderful baseline entry, melodic guitar riffs all backed up by a steady supportive drum beat, a song about throwing away possibilities in fear of the outcome, this followed by “Confused” a track that if you took all the musical and lyrical traits that sum up Litterbug, this is what you might get, seeing what is in front of them and writing about it.

There are so many stand out tracks within this album, and so many that lyrically can be open to interpretation, “Sludge” “Alienated” & “Waiting For Something To Happen” are among these, all seem to have there intentions there, but can be listened to with a sense of self.

If you haven’t been introduced to this band before now, then don’t expect that you will instantly love them, their history of releases are filled with styles and influences that blend to create both the melodic and heavier versions of their persona, this album though is by far there best yet, it feels as if everything before this was the cultivation and now you get the fruition.

Out on CD April 24th this album can also be purchased via the bands BANDCAMP

Litterbugs Facebook can be found HERE