I'm not making this up. SERAFIN'S drummer is called Ronny Growler. Like, how COULD I make that up? Isn't that genius in a totally "Spinal Tap" kinda way? Like they say, there's such a thin line between clever and stupid.
Fortunately, it's a tightrope SERAFIN seem capable of walking, so before you start perfecting your cries of "Hello Cleveland!",try this new single, the first thing to be culled from their debut album, "No Push Collide" (due in July), as it shows this London quartet seem to have their hard-but-melodic thang wound up tighter than Henry Rollins after ten pints of Tizer.
I admit I was initially a tad apprehensive. Serafin (it's a combination of Cherubim and Seraphim, allegedly) come recommended by Kerrang! and have Marilyn Manson producer Dave Sardy in the chair, but thankfully it's his other clients, the Dandy Warhols and Supergrass who are sonically as relevant when considering Serafin.
"Things Fall Apart" is a fine, urgent statement of intent, complete with unlikely "do do do" harmonies, of all things. Singer Ben Fox's acerbic tones do battle with strident riffing from Darryn Harkness, great chromatic counterpoint stuff from loose cannon bassist Ben Ellis and the aformentioned Mr.Growler (wa-hey!) shows he's a skin beater of some renown. The keening harmonies are thankfully far closer to REM or Husker Du and the whole shebang is all rather aggressively attractive.
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The two B-sides are unlikely away wins, too. Remarkably, their cover of Bowie's "Andy Warhol" passes with flying colours, updating Brixton Dave's neo-hippy acoustic blueprint with real panache. Closing choon "Spanish Water" is the heaviest thing here, but it's tough, rubbery riffs and Growler's malevolent hi-hat (hooray!) drive along another groovemungously economic episode.
Serafin are certainly hard enough to rock like multi-phallused Iguanadons, but thankfully they've tempered this with enough brevity and melodic suss to ensure their cerebral intent isn't ignored either. The title may suggest "Things Fall Apart", but the reality is the sound of things coming gloriously together.
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