So, picture the scene. It’s Lockdown and Mistakes frontman Ross Sutcliffe gets involved with a fellow Punk artist in New York, putting his vocals to a new set of songs. Never one to sit still and prove he is no one trick pony, this is quite a departure for this Poole-based frontman. Hooking up for a Trans-Atlantic match-up with one “Jim Rundle”, this pairing has released ten stellar songs in a socio/political vein with a Hardcore edge and more than a smattering of mid-80 Hair Metal noodling! You better believe it, people, I give you “Build Back Better” by When The Walls Fell.
This collection opens with the title track and is ferocious in its entry. Ross’s loud, aggressive vocal is paired with a rat-a-tat drumming power and guitar layering. The bass is however sedate, nestled in the background – the main draw here being the anthemic vocal hollering and a ‘spoken word’ inclusion mid-song which lights the touchpaper and is a kind of rallying call to anyone prepared to listen? That anthemic chorus then kicks back in while the snare-driven percussion fights for attention amid the strong guitar lines. It’s your classic three-minute Punk song and sets out their stall for what follows…..
“Failed State” comes next with more snare ferocity allied to prominent bass throbs and scratchy guitar chords. Once more that hard-edged vocal and political lyricism comes to the fore and there’s even a nod to the Dead Kennedys in the line “No Neutron Bomb needed To Kill The Poor”. But don’t be confused – although lyrically in the same ballpark, musically it’s twice removed!! The bass throbs set us up for some noodling in the bridge, but parity is resumed with stretched chords that take the song to its conclusion, while the drums once again are the star turn.
“The Long Con” begins in similar fashion with a drum pattern that just builds and builds, much like Ross’s vocal. I’m guessing the lyrical slant is based around the “have’s and have-nots”. The noodly guitars once again show their face mid-song as Ross’s snarly, direct delivery just accelerates with spite and fury that hits you hard like a smack in the chops. It’s a two-minute epic and not lost on this collection.
“Kingdome Come” brings the tempo down somewhat with some chiming guitars before a vocal switch displays a point of difference. It’s harsh and throaty with Ross adding vocal layering in the choruses. Jim delivers his vocal with spite and bile and again it has that socio/political edge. A song of failure maybe or just recognition of our plight within ‘the system’. The snare pounding is prominent throughout while the winding guitars briefly remind me of (early) UK Subs.
“Into The Tempest” opens with some intricate noodling that owes much to mid-80s Hair Metal, thankfully it doesn’t last!! This is after all a Punk song. Dual vocals then kick in hard, it’s as if both chaps are challenging each other to sing louder! Once more into the breach with a lyrical slant directed at The Man, however, I just don’t get the noodly bridge – it seems somewhat lost within a Punk song, a clash of genre’s or maybe an afterthought? That bridge then takes the song to its conclusion. Into The Tempest might divide opinion, but for this reviewer though it simply doesn’t work.
“That’s Alright” is the mid-album ‘breather song’, with a curious spoken word edit that kinda works – setting the scene before a snarly, aggressive vocal onslaught that envisages protestors walking down a street, delivering the message…..
“False Gods” returns to the power of drumming and chiming guitar chords. Altogether more coherent vocally and lyrically, the early bridge does away with the noodling in favour of those chimes while Ross’s vocal is at its most audible. Latterly the noodling returns in the second bridge, but don’t be put off! This song (IMO) could’ve been written by the likes of Green Day (circa American Idiot), such is the potency of the lyrics – it’s “thinking man’s Punk”, political to the core but pulling no punches.
“Witches” keeps the drum ferocity throughout and there’s no let-up. Vocally I’m reminded of one of our own in Varley (The Crash Landings), it’s dark and throaty. Throbbing basslines in the early bridge are a match for the drum tapping before it takes off once more. I just don’t get why they didn’t keep the song at a stellar three minutes. I’m puzzled by the latter chorus and drum/noodle-fest that takes the song to its conclusion – less is more!
“No Gods, No Masters” opens with a great guitar and drum intro before the noodling makes itself heard again. Louder, in yer face dual vocalising over guitar squalls and noodling aplenty. It kinda works in a Punk/Hair Metal mash-up style but I’m not convinced. Overtly Political again and the power within the musical arrangement matches the song’s tempo, I’m just not sure Hair Metal noodling suits Political Punk Rock – you the listener be the judge??
This collection ends with “(Nuclear) Winter Of Our Discontent” which carries on from its predecessor. With this subject matter prominent on both sides of the pond it’s no wonder bands write about it and put it to music. Lyrics aside this is your classic album closer – fast-paced and powerful, it’s all in there. I won’t pretend to be a fan of the noodling, it aint my bag, but once again the layered vocals and slow/fast formula seem to work here. And not to be outdone we get the noodly bridge which pretty much takes the song (and this collection) to its conclusion.
To sum up, this is a ten-song collection by ‘the best trans-Atlantic Punk band you’ll never see live’ (as quoted by the band themselves). If you like your Punk tinged with Hair Metal noodling, Hardcore and a Political vibe then this album may just be for you. It’s an album of two halves (IMO) which could either dent the mainstream or simply go underground into the DIY Punk movement. Jim and Ross have diluted their musical juices to create this ten-song album which covers many bases, I look forward to hearing what they come up with next?
Build Back Better by When The Walls Fell
Track listing
Build Back Better
Failed State
The Long Con
Kingdom Come
Into The Tempest
That’s Alright
False Gods
Witches
No Gods, No Masters
(Nuclear) Winter of our Discontent (Album Version)
When The Walls Fall Are
Vocals/Lyrics: Ross Sutcliffe and Jim Rundle
Guitar/Bass/Drums: Jim Rundle
Additional instruments: Gabriel Borza, Oleh Andrievskyy, DIY Punk Rock Drum Samples
Mix and Master: Marvin Menz, Tide Studio London.
Links
https://wtwfband.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/whenthewallsfellband
Review by Ross A. Ferrone.
