Sugar Rot

p.s.you'redead

This should be right up my alley, but unfortunately, I didn't end up liking this record all that much. In brief, Sugar Rot features some pretty clumsy drumming and incredibly gaudy synth passages that have a complete disregard for everything else that's going on around it. I find it to be terribly obnoxious which I know is strange to say considering that this brand of post-hardcore is trying to be an unlikeable mess. However, if you compare this to one of my favourite records from last year, Pacmanthemovie 2: Eat Lives, the chaos on that record is organized, it has a sense of humour that actually lands, and perhaps most importantly, more impactful and memorable performances. It is a lovable mess, whereas Sugar Rot is just a plain mess.

Now I hope I'm not coming off meanspirited as I definitely see p.s.you'redead's potential. Take the track Five Dollar Funeral Cookie for example. Where the band would typically have duelling guitars and synth making an unflattering racket, in the beginning of this track, the synths instead create this ominous low rumble, providing space for the guitar riff to do its thing. There's also some really creative production choices on this track, namely the part where the drums are hard cut and quickly panned from right to left. I also loved the surprisingly beautiful piano outro. The sustain pedal is pressed down the entire time so that all the notes commingle and echo into eternity. It is not at all indicative of what the band sounds like, but forgive me for saying that it is the moment that made the biggest impression. Even though this wasn't for me, I hope to see more from this band going forward. If they could refine things just a little more and build that musical chemistry, even if for the sole purpose of creating chaos, then I can see them being a real force in the future.