A daring record infused with sharp ambition...
20 · 03 · 2025
Being a rock music enthusiast in 2025 often feels like experiencing the same day repeatedly. The era when the genre regularly presented innovative ideas is well in the past. Technological advancements have birthed new music genres, rendering rock's foundational elements of vocals, guitars, and drums nearly obsolete, especially when juxtaposed with the futuristic sonic pleasures emerging from electronic-based genres like rap and contemporary pop.
No one appears to have informed YHWH Nailgun (pronounced “yahweh,” similar to the Hebrew deity) about the gradual decline of rock music's prospects. The Brooklyn quartet has crafted an exhilaratingly original vision of what the genre can represent in 2025, breaking down and reconfiguring the aforementioned basic components into something vibrantly fresh. Their debut album, ‘45 Pounds,’ is a ten-track, 21-minute surge of experimental rock, characterized by a variety of unusual, unpredictable textures and fast-paced rhythms that are so intense that a longer duration would require a break. None of the tracks follow any recognizable structure, nor will any of Zack Borzone’s raspy shouts echo in your mind with the deceptive allure of a catchy melody.
Nevertheless, despite (or perhaps because of) these unconventional quirks, ‘45 Pounds’ is a complete joy. The mesmerizing rhythms produced by drummer Sam Pickard are truly remarkable. His ceaseless yet chaotic beats propel each track, particularly standing out in vibrant groove-driven pieces like ‘Castrato Raw (Fullback)’ and the ominously heavy ‘Iron Feet’. Despite the metallic and at times harshly synthetic textures, these intensely groovy percussive layers situate YHWH Nailgun within a distinct New York punk-funk lineage, reminiscent of Liquid Liquid and LCD Soundsystem, while the metallic bell elements incorporated into his kit echo those used by the remarkable Adam Betts of UK experimentalists Three Trapped Tigers.
Accompanying these thrilling rhythms and Borzone’s intense, peculiar lyrics (notable line: “vultures lift me by my hair/I watch their wings like a baby would/I’m on a white cloud/I’m a Russian plane” from ‘Tear Pusher’) is a dizzying array of rich synths and unidentifiable guitars. The standout track ‘Blackout’ perfectly captures the tonal and even emotional layers that YHWH Nailgun weaves above their dazzling rhythms. It begins with sinister bass swells, transitions into warped, celestial synth chords, followed by high-pitched guitar scratches, and concludes with organ-like synths that feel more unsettling than sacred.
YHWH Nailgun’s audacity in blending contrasting tonal elements, often within a single track, is crucial to the power of ‘45 Pounds’. Coupled with the band’s relentless energy and musical cohesiveness (their ability to groove is extraordinary), it culminates in something uniquely spectacular. This debut presents a deeply original sound from a raw, ambitious band, whose post-industrial urban quality (check out this impressive video of them performing in an abandoned New York tunnel) imbues it with a remarkable sense of place and texture. It evokes the sensation of soaring over and beneath a metropolis, surveying the intricate, deeply human chaos of modern destruction while having an exhilarating time in the process.
9/10
Words: Tom Morgan
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Being a rock music enthusiast in 2025 can frequently seem like you’re experiencing a perpetual loop of the same day. The times when the genre reliably presented new and exciting sounds