The Institutes, hailing from Coventry, release their debut album ‘Colosseums’ Friday 22nd October via 42s Records. After a string of anthemic singles behind them, can the album live up to the expectation?
Images and artwork courtesy of End of the Trail Creative.
For two years, The Institutes have been rapidly closing the gap between them and DMA’s in terms of quality fuzzed-up singalongs. Like their Australian counterparts, they have a knack for making a specific tale mean all things to all people. Former singles ‘Something Beautiful’ and ‘I Just Can’t Keep Myself From Loving You’ being the finest exponents of this. The former is a tale of a relationship breakup where a child is involved. The power of the love for the child is so intoxicating it lends itself to addiction or a burning desire to make it in life. ‘I Just Can’t Keep Myself From Loving You’ follows a similar path where the protagonist demonstrates a breath-taking imbalance. It’s a tidal way sent to blow you away! Both songs befit their ethereal sonic but, lurking within are short muscular guitars and Reni-likes drums intensifying the power.
This writing capability allows for such a greater emotional pull when they do hone in on a discourse. ‘Feels Like Rain Again’, colossal in sound, tackles fog that clouds the mind in moments of mental torment. The protagonist’s journey is one of struggle (“I don’t if I’m Jekyll or Hyde”) to one of the finest contrast in music, ever. As frontman Reid Zappa Currie decrees “this is a part of me”, the guitars swirl with such majesty that, it’s as though our hero has come to terms with the problems. Reid’s delivery though is a triumph of the human spirit. Wrenched from the soul, it carries so much pain that you can hear his soul fragmenting.
Their more precise songwriting style culminates in the album closer ‘Better Now’. The third act resolution of the journey trickles hazily into view with early Nick McCabe guitars before ascending to DMA’s glory and beyond. The cinematic climax is signed off with Kirk Savage’s eruption of drums and cacophony of guitars providing a truly cathartic moment for mind, body, and soul.
It is, by no means an exaggeration to state, that every song here is an anthem. They walk the tightrope of mass melodic appeal and artistic integrity searching for new pastures. ‘Inside Out’ takes the inspiration summer fading sounds of Soundtracks of Our Lives to new planes. ‘Alleyways’, musically battles between the forlorn nature of ‘Listen Up’ and the effervescent spirit of ‘Sally Cinnamon. All the while, it humbly taps into the nostalgic mind of people and, reflects upon carefree childhood relationships. Meanwhile, ‘Heal In Time’ is an urgent burst of hope with The La’s and Ride in their hearts.
On and on this joy goes on ‘Colosseums’. This album’s spirit is nothing short of heroic. Its quality vastly towers over its peers. The majors have come sniffing around bands of late, their choices, eyebrow-raising to say the least. The Institutes have been ignored to date. However, not by Lammo, John Kennedy, and Tom Robinson. Not by us, now, it’s time for you, the people to go send them to the top and make their journey the stratospheric one it merits.