SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GENERAL ADMIN – CLOUDED ROOM

GENERAL ADMIN
CLOUDED ROOM
INDEPENDENT

General Admin is a three piece band based in London, although the members are from London  and Brighton. Clouded Room is their third EP. The trio is made up of Adam, Matt and Mike (no last names), and on this particular EP they make quite a noise for a three-piece band. The album has three tracks, and all three are pretty heavy and really do rock. The band acknowledges their influences but, in all honesty, they have taken their musical influences and combined them to make their own brand of heavy rock. This isn’t punk, or metal, or grunge. It is heavy, hard rock.

The EP opens with “Returns Diminishing”, which opens with some very tasteful guitar and bass in a very sparse arrangement. The band then kicks in for the song, and it is a very melodic song, not as heavy as other material on the EP, but once it transitions into the body of the song, drums kick in and the song takes many shapes and forms, all in just over three minutes. “Barnacle” is up next, which is much heavier and harder. Again, although it is heavy, it is sparse. They do not bury or condense the sound. The bass, once again, is very prominent.

“Seventh Night” closes the EP in style. And in some ways, it is what Joy Division may have sounded like if they formed in the mid to late 1990s. Again, there is a heaviness to the sound, but not at the expense of losing melody or the song. The use of harmonies in this song is very interesting and brings a whole new dimension to not only the song but the band themselves.

Clouded Room is short, but in the 12 min or so, the band packs a great deal of energy, intensity and extremely tight playing. General Admin writes incredibly intense songs. The lyrics are not exactly bright and cheery and, on this EP, self-expression and disappointment seem to take centre stage. Clouded Room is a great example of how good heavy/hard rock can sound and although it is dark, it is also very inviting. The band takes the listener away into their world for a very short time, and that is a great thing. General Admin and Clouded Room is like a party to which everyone is invited, but beware, it is not all fun and games.

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