by Kris Handel
Running from the Chase is the sophomore record from North Carolina based band Truth Club, expanding their garage punk sound into territories of knotty and emotional textures that open up the soundscapes innumerably. Their debut album featured high octane pop-punk/garage tunes full of full throated shouting and an invigorating energy that put the listening public on notice, whereas this release shows an increased seasoning and a bit more patience and restraint. Truth Club indulge themselves in knottier song structure with shifting tempos and tunings akin to bands like Polvo and Sonic Youth to expand their musical range and increase the impact of their songs. Travis Harrington and company have continued to explore new avenues to express their heavy and at times obtuse emotional song construction pushing themselves with clever twists and turns that provide all sorts of promise and intrigue.
"Clover" is Truth Club coming close to their most compact as guitars crash and pull at each other while there is a charming harmonious undercut with Harrington's shuffling mumbles laying a blurred foundation. Here the band show off their quirky and emotional influences to wonderful effect, a unique combination of indie-pop sunniness with a queasy undercurrent of unsettled churning emotions. "Suffer Debt" starts off with muted guitar chording and Harrison's combination of drawl and muffled vocals as his accompaniment builds slowly with pounding bass and cautious drum fills. Eventually there is a release of tension with his and accompanying vocals giving way to squealing riffs and intense rhythmic pounding before an abrupt conclusion
"Blue Eternal" is one of the more furious tracks on the record. Guitars blare out chords as Harrison's vocals chant exclamatory over top while the backing ratchets up into screaming solos and aggressive drum fills. Truth Club show off their muscle in this frantic and explosive post-punk track that is full of an underlying tension and menace reminiscent of mid-late 80's indie punk power and drive. "Dancing Around my Tongue" gives space for the band to play with differing rhythms and dynamics again recalling Polvo. There is a building of tension that never fully gets released that creates quite an intriguing atmosphere. Drum fills skitter around chiming guitar as Harrington’s vocals drift and sway almost incomprehensibly leading to the building of impending dread with an impressive mix of Joy Division and dark pop influences.
Truth Club's growth on their first release for Double Double Whammy deserves all the credit that is to come as Harrington and company have expanded their range for maximum impact. The band continue to build their songcraft with entrancing earworm melodies and an intensity that never loses steam from track to track. This is a record that will leave you with a sense of familiarity that is hard to fully put a finger on, which speaks volumes to the chameleonic nature of the band and the impressive ability to incorporate differing influences into a cohesive and unique whole. Running from the Chase is the start of an incredibly strong foundation to build and expound upon, pointing to an exciting future, one that should be fun to watch in all aspects.