It’s been a hot minute since we last sat down with We Struck Gold, and in that time the Bristol collective have gone from strength to strength. Four released compositions with accompanying visuals, a whole host of tour dates under their belt and now a heavyweight eight track EP entering the game just in time for the year’s festival season. Championed by the likes of the BBC, Dreambound and pretty much any publication you can think of – the steady stream of singles that have paved the way for the full record set the tone admirably, and have set the bar high for any fans with significant expectations for the band’s latest body of work.
Themed around dismantling social constructs and delving into the unknown, the lyrical narrative that underpins ‘Feel Nothing’ is a heavy hitter. Following a brief introduction, the record’s second single ‘done.’ is aptly placed, and sets the pace for the rest of the cycle in its opening seconds. Anyone fortunate enough to have caught the band’s live show at The Crofters Rights in Bristol back in May will have experienced the track in all its glory, as it is intended to be heard – however the studio master provided a platform for the vocals to ring true and cut deep. With a soaring chorus and some of the lighter guitar tones at play, the fourth stop on the release displays the band’s appreciation for every aspect of their genre. ‘I’ll Find More Peaceful Days’ is far from the heaviest track on the EP, but provides a well placed reprieve and opportunity to digest the overall sonic experience in its entirety.
‘Momentum’ (featuring Skywalker’s Jay Kucera) is certainly one of the record’s high notes, with both vocalists utilizing their combined skillset to produce a brilliant result. The penultimate track on the record was the first for public release, and already a staple in the WSG live set. ‘Giving Up On Giving In’ summarizes the band’s strengths in one three minute spectacle, and incorporates the best elements of melodic hardcore to the bands full advantage. The project’s continued persistence and refusal to back down is poured all over the track in its entirety, fueling the aggression set out by the instrumentation and expertly paired with the vocal style.
Contributors Omar Al-Hinai, Jesse Brock, and Scott Harris have a musical chemistry that dominates every inch of their work. Each performer acts as one vital part of the same machine, and the unity in their ethos has elevated the entire project to new levels of success. Regardless, with a heightened conviction and a freshly loaded arsenal, the new record from We Struck Gold is the sound of a band who know how to express themselves to the best of their abilities.