“Hold/Still,” the new album from Canadian rock band Suuns, is not a work that one can easily dissect. With a tense, guitar-driven yet eerily electronic backdrop, Suuns has carved out a record arguably as psychedelic as any released so far this year.
Whereas other groups that dabble in the psychedelic realm rely heavily on histrionics focused on the guitar, Suuns relies on the unusual and unexpected. In the same song, soft guitar sounds and maniacal, aggressive electronics coexist to create something that may seem disjointed, but in reality is quite beautiful.
No where is this formula more evident than on the album centerpiece, “Brainwash.” The track begins as a lyrical guitar song but gets bombarded midway through by harsh, buzzing electronics, bringing to mind the image of a drill going through an art piece. Maybe this is the band’s statement against the establishment itself, an idea bolstered by the constant chanting of the word “brainwash,” while musical chaos erupts in the background.
Moreover, Suuns do not hold any special reverence for what is familiar in rock. This album owes itself just as much to forward thinking experimental groups like Death Grips as to all of the classic psychedelic rockers of the past 50 years. And this is why they succeed. Their sound is fresh. It is something new.
The greatest part about this LP has to be the lead vocals of singer Ben Shemie. Exploring lyrical themes of sex and spirituality, Shemie gives the impression throughout that he is ever-searching. On “Instrument,” one of the album’s highlights, he croons, “I want to believe / I want to receive.” The constant throughout is desperation. Whether he is desperate for mental stability, salvation or something else, there is no doubt that Shemie is an extremely anguished soul.
Past Suuns records like 2010’s “Zeroes QC” and 2012’s “Images Du Futur” bring with them similar sentiments, but on “Hold/Still,” the listener experiences so much more. The production is more varied and the core themes of the record are maintained throughout, fitting the dark sonic landscapes that the band sets forth. It will be interesting to see where Suuns go from here, but there is little doubt that they are taking Canadian Rock in an interesting, new direction.
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