The Outsiders announced themselves with a polished demo release last year and now follow this up with their debut ‘proper’ release, the ten-track The Words Will Write Themselves. The Hot Water Music influence still lies heavy on the songs, but this release represents another step forward for a band expanding in a very natural, organic manner.
The band has developed a sound that is post-hardcore, but also with a bluesy rock base. Gritty and laced with a hint of melancholy, it is a mature approach reliant on repeated listenings. There are no simple verse/chorus/verse structures here. This does mean the songs have a tendency to lack immediacy and blur together somewhat; the lack of hooks mean they can slip by without digging in. The result is an album that, while an excellent piece of work, feels oddly muted and safe.
But there is much to enjoy here if you are willing to put the time in. The big standout is scorching opener “The Other Half“, where sparse passages become a punchy, staccato chorus that forms the backbone of the greatest Outsiders track to date. Indeed, the song is so good that all that follows it lingers in its shadows (although, actually, its immediate successor “Blue Skies” is pretty damn sharp, as is “The Weight of Living Large“). If the Wellingtonians could marry this level of catchiness and individuality to more of their songs, they could be something very special, indeed.
Matt Barnes, Punkas.com
An incremental improvement from their demo, The Words Will Write Themselves marks The Outsiders as a growing name in the local punk scene with potential to burn.
| Released | 2010, May 17 |
| Label | self-released |
| Formats | CD/ DL |
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Credits
- Dan Burmester: guitar, vocals
- Niam Hegarty: bass, vocals
- Dave McDonald: drums
- Stuart Young: guitar, vocals
