by Amy Rowe (@bathbinch)
Take two men named John, a drum kit and a guitar and you’ve got the makings of a powerful, noisy new record, Nocturnal Manoeuvres. The eponymous JOHN -- a duo made up of drummer and lead vocalist John Newton and guitarist and backing vocalist Johnny Healey -- hail from the U.K. and have channeled a brooding and primal sound on their third full-length album. Like the title suggests, the vibe is dark throughout the album’s ten tracks. Together, the sum of the parts on Nocturnal Manoeuvres paints an ominous landscape for listeners.
It’s the album’s second track “Sibensko Powerhouse” in particular that helps set this tone. The Johns provide a pummeling guitar riff and drum beat that solidify their post-hardcore sound. They get some vocal support aka shouting from IDLES bassist Adam Devonshire. This feature comes as no surprise, as both British bands operate in the same arena of brooding noise.
“Jargoncutter” is a fun addition to the record. Lots of people know the nursery rhyme, “Sally sells seashells by the seashore.” Newton riffs on the tongue-twister from memory, chanting the words against a thumping drum beat. The rhyme is effectively co-opted to comment on pervasive, capitalistic language.
Album closer “Non-essential Hymn” really rounds things out. The final and longest track of the record, “Non-essential Hymn” is indeed essential. The guitar and drums slowly build up in the beginning, before getting into fierce, head-banging territory. An ambient lull in the middle breaks up the song, before returning to another jam section that borders on groovy as it builds and builds again. It’s all very meditative, but it peters out then abruptly finishes. The ending is blunt, just like JOHN’s proven to be.