As the world comes to an end, one can only hope punk and metal bands will get angry regarding our collective demise to provide a decent soundtrack. Thanks to record labels who want products that can be easily marketed a more pop element has been diluting genres that should be holding the middle finger up to the imminent mushroom clouds to come. A few brave bands are shunning this kinder and gentler direction. New Jersey’s GEL is one of them. Their new album Persona (Blue Grape Music) finds the band ready to give the middle finger, as they get right up in your face with their pumped-up take on punk. 2023’s “Only Constant” had not only momentum but did not compromise when it came to the songwriting. This time around the energy leans more into the hard-core side, throwing more weight behind its punches.
The straightforward punk rush of adrenaline pumps through the title track, with more deliberate breakdown-styled riffs breaking things up. The driven bass line going into “Martyr” provides more nuance to the overall sound. It would be easy for the band to let their aggression carry them away and just hit you with anger, which would cast a monochrome shade over these songs. A more 90s hard-core feel pervades “Martyr”. Frontwoman Sami Kaiser still screams in one direction while varying the phrasing to give more range to her performance, with a few spoken sections adding more sonic color.
Sami’s bark might sound as confrontational as in past performances, but lyrically Kaiser says despite using the word you in a finger-pointing manner she is referring to herself. In this way, the songs are more personal on this album. Overall the expansion of dynamics they needed on the previous album was slight since the raw energy expelled from them carried most of the weight, but everything has been dialed in to find the perfect balance on this one.
“Vanity” is marginally darker due to the deliberate throb of the guitar. This album is more produced than the previous song, but still organic enough to maintain its charm. The guitar has a more metallic tone which plays into this being more of a hardcore record, though some of the more Rock N Roll-rooted Punk sensibilities are present, greater emphasis is placed more of added heft to the guitars. Granted touring and playing large festivals had to have influenced the band. They have grown into who they are as a band without losing any intensity. Persona is one of the best punk albums you are going to hear this year.
Buy the EP here:
http://GELhc.bandcamp.com
9 / 10
WIL CIFER