There’s nothing quite like the sound of a raucous rock band in full flight. When played right, the combination of a pounding rhythm section, explosive guitars and windswept vocals is like nothing on earth and could wake even the most diehard narcoleptic. That’s precisely what the Los Angeles-based quartet known as Lowlives serve up, with each of the ten tracks comprising their debut album Freaking Out being an adrenaline shot that sets every nerve ending on high alert. If high-octane alternative rock is your bag, then buckle up tight because Lowlives are here to give you a taste of the high life.

Opening to a wall of glorious feedback, the title-track races out of the blocks and doesn’t look back. ‘Freaking Out’ is akin to standing in a wind tunnel as the song races past, ruffling your clothes and hair, and leaving you a little dazed in its wake. However, there’s no time to digest what just hit you because ‘Liar’ follows and has a similar effect, and that’s exactly how Freaking Out operates; like a welterweight boxer it’s quick on its feet and lands lots of jabs and rabbit punches in quick succession. That’s not to say this record is generic, far from it, there’s plenty of variety on offer here, yet there’s a kind of reductionist ethos going on; the band prove themselves the ultimate editors and trim any excess fluff off these songs. Like the aforementioned boxer, the ten cuts are collected here are mean and lean; they’re ripped like a gym rat and built for the long haul.

Formed by two ex-pats (Luke Johnson and Lee Downer) now baking ‘neath the Los Angeles sun, it seems that their adopted home has had a big influence on them musically with the heavier end of ‘90s alternative rock having a big impact here (think Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Stone Temple Pilots). It’s a sound that’s full of light and shade, with huge, sing-along choruses, fuzzed-up guitars and a nimble rhythm section, and the result is a sound that swings like a huge wrecking ball that has come to demolish your speakers. In fact, it is only closing track ‘Vertigo’ that takes its foot off the gas, yet in the arc of the album it makes perfect sense, and means that Freaking Out comes to a thoughtful conclusion, and one that’s very satisfying.

• Freaking Out is released via Spinefarm Records on 31st May 2024.
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Track List:

1. Freaking
2. Liar
3. Getting High on Being Low
4. Swan Dive
5. Loser
6. You Don’t Care
7. Out of Step
8. Closer Than You Know
9. Damien
10. Vertigo