San Francisco noise-pop outfit Badvril released their new LP Lethal this past Friday, October 16, via Share It Music, and it’s well worth giving a spin if you’re into fuzzy, emo-tinged noise pop with elements of shoegaze, grungy ’90s-inspired alternative rock, and plenty of melodic hooks.
The 10-track record follows their debut full-length In Heaven and finds the band pairing thick, hazy guitars and rough-around-the-edges distortion with infectious melodies and an emotional undercurrent. There’s a little of the fuzzed-out, hook-heavy indie rock of Hotline TNT, the dreamy shoegaze textures of Nothing and DIIV, the noisier side of Wednesday and MX Lonely, and shades of the heavier, emo-tinged dreamo of Downward and Trauma Ray. You can even hear echoes of Catherine Wheel’s classic ’90s alternative/shoegaze sound, albeit with a slightly poppier sheen. It’s a pretty compelling combination that still manages to feel like Badvril’s own thing.
Previously released singles “Push It Down,” “Golden,” and “Fever” offered a taste of what the band had in store, but now the full record is here to dig into. It’s a satisfying mix of noise, melody, and ’90s alternative nostalgia that should appeal to fans who like their indie rock loud, fuzzy, and catchy.
Lethal is out now via Share It Music. Give it a listen below.
