Teenage Wrist's 'Earth is a Black Hole' sprinkles elements of shoegaze over alt-rock and grunge

MUSIC REVIEW

Hailing from Los Angeles, the American alternative rock band, Teenage Wrist is known for their sound which is a fusion of 90s alt-rock, shoegaze and post-grunge. The band debuted with an EP in 2015. Primarily describing their sound as shoegaze and grunge, the band released their second album, 'Earth Is a Black Hole' in the year 2021. This album received major appreciation and criticism at the same time. However, the album cleared out a path for the band, walking through which the band is now in an ascendant phase.

The band is presently a duo with Anthony Salazar on the drums and Marshall Gallagher as the guitarist and vocalist. They had two past members called Kamtin Mohager on the bass guitar and vocals and another guitarist called Chase Barham.

The album, 'Earth Is a Black Hole' came up with the efforts of the band's now duo Marshall Gallagher and Anthony Salazar.

The album starts with the track called Squeeze, which is the intro of the album. This short intro displays influence of the 90s alternative radio rock elements. The signature 'emo' sounding guitar riffs are what build up the foundation of the track. This is followed by a feel-good guitar lead which sets the tone for the rest of the album. When you proceed on with the album, each song gets stitched up with the subsequent track flawlessly. This intro, which is strictly instrumental, is quite energetic even when the track is quite short, perfect for an intro.

The second track titled 'Taste of Gasoline' has elements of alt-rock and shoegaze. The composition of this track is well laid out on top of reverberated dreamy guitar plucking rhythms. The song follows a basic rock song pattern which switches into a grungy chorus. The lead guitar composition in the chorus resembles the vocal composition of the chorus. The song is framed with two verses, two choruses and a final chorus after a short interlude. 'Taste of Gasoline' speaks of the monotonous adversities that accompany the life of a human. The lyrics perfectly underline the mood of the song.

The third track titled 'New Emotion' is heavier in terms of the production. The rhythms pick up a continuous strums and hit pattern. The composition seems to be aligned to more pop-punk vibes. However, it is energetic and speaks of unsure roads. Just like the song title suggests, it speaks of new beginnings, perspectives and experiences. The song is a fun jam and perfect for a road trip with your friends. It also has the ambience that can help one get out of a rut.

'Yellowbelly' is more alt-rock and cuts aside the elements of shoegaze and chunky guitars. It starts with a simple guitar plucking rhythm and the drums making use of the ride to build the swing. This is one of the most adorable songs of the album. The lyrics goes as, "Yellow-bellied love, turn me over and over again, cemetery guard, doesn't see it but he's already dead", which pulls curtains of melancholy. The song, which starts on a laid back ambience, is taken over by a post-grunge chorus. This track is a perfect early 2000s sounding track.

The fifth track of the album is titled as 'Silverspoon'. The track starts with alt-rock and shoegaze rhythms. One might even get the feel of a 'Deftones' guitar riff. This is another laid back track with a simple rock drum pattern. The vocalist conquers every single room provided in the instrumental. The chorus is very lively. The most attractive element of this track is however the guitar leads and melodic lines. The lyrics are perfectly complimented by the composition. The short interlude after the second chorus, followed by a very short solo, decorates the track in all its beauty. It is a pleasantly done track for sure.

The sixth track is called 'Wear U Down'. It has a blues ambience and alt-rock rhythms. This track at points will give the similar impression to that of a Hoobastank song. The composition lacks the gravitas, when compared to the other tracks of the album. But when one listens to the album according to the track listing, the song does fits in with the line-up. This track comes in as a bridge between the initial half and later half of the album. The track lacked quite a few elements, failing to address it with the same nuances like the other tracks in the album.

The next track is titled, 'High Again' and it is one of the most sought after track of the album. The production of the song is brilliant with some experimentation with vocal samples. The chorus in the track has a perfectly done alt-rock sound. The song lacks shoegaze elements but is backed by layers of post-grunge. The wavy reverberated guitars shine out in this track and the composition is one to die for. The track which lasts for a duration of 3.26 minutes empowers the album to a great extent.

The eighth track of the album titled 'Wasting Time' starts off with an energetic alt-rock guitar riff. The guitar composition deserves much appreciation in this track. The base lead line surely melts one's heart and leaves room for the vocalist to express what the lyrics are meant to. The chorus is powered with screams and drum beats with a lot of open hats and crash sounds. Some processed guitar licks add up to the beauty of the track. This track demands a large crowd and live performance. The track stands out in the album. It is a brilliantly crafted modern alt-rock track.

The ninth track of the album, which apparently is the title track, is another brilliantly done composition. It does what a title-track is supposed to do. The chorus of the song is very catchy and is likely to have a listener hooked on the track. The drum fills after the second chorus builds up to a bridge and finally ends the song on a final chorus. The guitars and drums have punk-rock elements. However it still maintains the melo- emo ambience. It is another track in the album which is meant to rock the crowds at live shows.

The final track called 'Stella' is an acoustic ballad that ends the album on a calmer note. The song sounds like a modern lullaby. Each word of the lyrics speaks of submitting to moments of goodbyes. The lyrics are beautifully haunting at times. The song says, "And down again, we will descend, to the haunted places no one knows, be still, the time, we don't decide, when moments and silence grows." Words as such, leave a listener numb. However, the acoustic ballad brings in the distortions at the later part of the song and which leaves one's heart heavy.

Overall, the album is a brilliant effort to renew the 90s grunge and alt-rock sounds, while sprinkling elements of shoegaze in it.

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