Endless Heights’ full length debut ‘New Bloom’ infused punk with hardcore nuances and five years later, they return with a successor. Despite being fresh and younger, ‘Viscous Pleasure’ seems like the older, more mature sibling.
Unlike many older siblings, however, the album is very likeable. Every song is structured to showcase immense skill; the songwriting is intelligent and most importantly, it’s music with feeling. Not that the Sydney troupe lacked these qualities to start with, but the evolution of their sound has resulted in a unique factor. It was bobbing just below the surface on their 2015 EP ‘Teach You How To Leave’ and has now fully emerged.
The album starts with ‘Taste It’, a brief intro that sets the tone for what’s to come, yet it’s hard to imagine anything could really prepare you for the seduction of ‘Toxic’. The sludgy bass creates an appetising contrast to the sharp guitar tone which is somewhat reminiscent of Tool, without falling into the heaviness of metal. Not that the band have discarded the idea entirely, as evident by the metal riffs in the final minutes of ‘You Coward’ but the complex layering of the song elevates it to something more atmospheric.
Then there’s the vocals. Joel Martorana’s range may need a review of its own as he easily goes from screaming to dipping into falsettos and vice versa. His lower register has a lovely warm tone that becomes more urgent as it inches up the scale. Putting the technicality aside for a moment, you’re still left with a voice that’s brimming with emotion. Songs like ‘Paralyse’ and ‘Come A Little Closer’ leaves Martorana especially vulnerable, but also accentuates his restraint, pouring just enough of himself into a song to retain a sense of mystery.
‘Shiver Down’ is an album highlight. The epic chorus allows you to finally exhale after holding your breath during the climactic build of the verse. Throughout much of the album the guitar tone has a slightly ominous quality and here the frantic riffs almost tell a story of struggle, making the momentary release in the chorus so much sweeter.
‘Vicious Pleasure’ is an album packed with ample hooks and explosive choruses, all wrapped in skill and what seems like a real understanding of not only their audience but also themselves. This is a body of work that explores relationships from a songwriting perspective and in doing so, grows the bond between a group of musicians and their fans, whether old or new.
RENETTE VAN DER MERWE