Words To Live By, Suits To Die In. Queen's Pleasure

Queen's Pleasure debuted on these pages with an excellent EP this spring. One that was played quite often, admittedly when my girlfriend was not at home. And now there's an LP and it fulfils most of one's alternative, punky rock wishes. When a band manages to incorporate a little Arctic Monkeys, some punkrock bluster and present a softer edge as well, there's not that much what can go wrong. If that band has the songs to boot, that is. Queen's Pleasure has those in abundance.

Let me take 'Alex Sender' as the epitome of the band's sound. An Arctic Monkeys riff that culminates in a majestic, orgiastic solo at the end of the song. The kind of riff that Alex Turner, a tip of the hat?, is not very interested in writing any more. Next Queen's Pleasure adds a great pop chorus to the song. The dynamics in 'Alex Sender' are great as well. Stops, starts, endless hours of practising went into reaching this level of perfection. And then the glorious ending kicks in. Stacks of guitar solos are overlapping. Orgiastic, as I wrote already.

Perhaps things do not get better than in 'Alex Sender', they certainly become more varied and remain interesting right up to the last second. Queen's Pleasure is the kind of band that likes to go full out. Energy, and enthusiasm are two words I connect instantly to the music on offer. It just oozes out of Words To Live By, Suits To Die In. The band doesn't settle for less is my impression.

Promo photo: Paul Bellaart

In that it certainly has found inspiration in a band like Canshaker Pi. There certainly is a kinship. Just listen to 'Big Boys Loan' and you'll hear what I mean, but where that (ex?) band turned off left to more alternative pastures, Queen's Pleasure turns right, including the sound of the latest Arctic Monkeys' incarnation, something that can be heard in the beginning of 'Come Around'.

My impression of Words To Live By, Suits To Die In is that Amsterdam band Queen's Pleasure may have taken an inspiration as a starting point and presents that in the beginning of a song, easily recognisable for those able to do so. From that point the band went in search of its own preferences and, considerable, abilities. In search of its own voice. It certainly found a few.

In the past years I have lauded several Dutch alternative rock bands. With most I still stand, by the way. So, I'm truly interested how Words To Live By, Suits To Die In and I will progress in the coming months and years. For a band, just starting out with its first album, it seems like the band has it all going for it. The songs, the quality, the spunk. Once again The Netherlands produced an album that shows it to be world leaders in alternative rock. A blast of an album Words To Live By, Suits To Die In is.

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