Nearly a month ago, Barking Poets released their latest standalone single, once again proving they’re not only a prolific band but one of those exceptional punk rock trios that always break all the rules and shapeshift the boundaries of their sound. Although their recent works, such as “Change Our Ways,” “Losing Contact,” “The Mess I Made,” and “Arizona,” all sound equally good, “Pure Blood” further showcases their ability to transform modern punk rock music into something wild, unique, innovative, and completely new. And even when you know these folks are all about that catchy, addictive, hypnotic melodic punk rock, there are some surprises lurking beneath the surface that make this track even more appealing to the ears. Whether it’s that magnificent ’90s rock ambiance roaming around, sweet rawness borrowed from garage rock sound, subtle hard rock details notable in the rhythm section, anthemic alternative rock choruses, or tender indie melodies, “Pure Blood” is one of those songs that will make you return once again for another round of brilliant ideas and superb musicianship. This is a proper, modern London punk rock sound that we have all loved and followed for decades, and Barking Poets made sure to pay homage to it while infusing all those qualities that made them one of the finest UK bands today.
“Pure Blood” is packed with tastefully assembled, flawlessly performed, and perfectly recorded instrumentations. As soon as you press play, you’ll stumble upon all those warm, detailed, vividly hearable basslines, slowly introducing you into the subtly dark yet immensely melodic ambiance of this song. Those low-ends are solely responsible for why this song shines with all the warmth, depth, clarity, and heaviness, as all those luxuriant, deep, dense, and heavy notes hit the right spots and offer more groove and detail. You’ll also hear how these basslines counterbalance guitar works and also act as a binding element that connects the mentioned instrumentations with rhythmic patterns. The excellent drumming performance, based upon all those well-accentuated, perfectly arranged, and expertly performed beats, breaks, and fills, provides a rock-solid rhythmic backdrop that keeps everything in line while dictating a moderate pace and more groove. Each hit of the snare cuts the ambiance, each kick of the bass drum sits in the mix where it is supposed to be, and all those accentuations over hi-hats and other cymbals are decorations every fan of this important instrument will appreciate. Of course, both bass and drums serve as the backbone of this track while the guitars roam around, shaping a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon.
The guitar layers have multiple purposes here. At first, you’ll notice how they shape the ambiance with subtle yet vividly hearable microphony lurking around while the bass guitar contributes the main melody. During the choruses, the guitars ring with raw, abrasive, gritty power chords, making this track as powerful as possible. These guitar works expand to the main theme, melodies, and harmonies during the second verse and jangly, angular, arpeggiated chord progressions during the bridge, gradually introducing the catchy, memorable, beautiful solo that unquestionably decorates and elevates this marvelous track even more. Neil’s voice brings even more melody over the top, with all those lines balancing low, mid, and high notes with such precision and finesse. He maintains his voice sometimes between clean and subtly raw harmonies, a technique that not only suits this particular song but also their previous works. This vocal technique packs melody and aggression equally, continiously levitating between power pop or indie punk and classic London punk rock style. It’s a wise move that works like a charm, proving that Neil and the gang thought about everything while writing, composing, arranging, recording, and producing this melodic punk rock anthem.
Barking Poets never cease to amaze with their ideas and musicianship, and that’s the case with “Pure Blood” as well. This track packs everything you ever needed from a modern melodic punk rock song while simultaneously paying homage to the London sound. Their experience, knowledge, creativity, talent, and skills are on full display here, proving that these folks are one of the finest punk rock bands you’ll stumble upon nowadays. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates sharp lyricism, anthemic choruses, beautiful melodies, intricate basslines, and excellent drumming. Head to your favorite streaming platform and listen to it loud!
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