Kill Your Darlings. GUNMOLL

In April it is two years ago Amsterdam's GUNMOLL could be found on WoNoBlog for the first time. A year ago the EP 'Welcome To The GUNMOLL Family' was and here is the debut album. And what an album it is. GUNMOLL goes full out and does not fail to show to the world what it is good at, playing extremely exciting music, including music allowing for major party time.

GUNMOLL is Jolien Grünberg (voice, guitar) and Bram Bol (guitar, producer) with Koen van Bemmelen (bass) and Bas Janssen (drums). The former two started the band and found the latter to complete their energetic sound as they are an important part of the sound.

The album opens with a statement. 'Chasin'' has surfrock written all over it. Of course, this is far removed from what Dick Dale and such could create in the late 1950s. The reverb on the guitars and the rhythm jabs leave no doubt what the inspiration is. 'Pulp Fiction' could be the intermediate link of course. In the song the signature voice of Jolien Grünberg is another clear anchor. It is not your everyday voice, somewhat girlish with some helium assistance, just like the singer from the Danish band The Astroid Galaxy Tour, Mette Lindberg. The higher Grünberg sings, the more distinct her voice becomes.

Photo: Roan de Vries

It matches the firm background though. She surfs on the riffs of the guitars as if there is no danger underneath them at all. And there isn't for her, as the band carries her. Just listen to how "a dozen" Grünbergs sing out in the chorus of 'Wanna Be A Star' or in the über track 'Tata's Lie'. Rock meets surf in abundance here with Grünberg cresting the highest waves the band is able to create. As far as I'm concerned this is THE GUNMOLL track and the first single in 2024. This ought to be a huge hit, but unfortunately the song does have seven writers, six producers and three featurings. I hear a lot of international bands playing rock songs like 'Tata's Lie', there are not a lot matching this prowess and energy.

The second influence that shines through is an eastern element in the music. GUNMOLL shows it for the first time in the prosaic 'Fuck Everything Up'. While Jolien Grünberg runs amok with full anarchic intentions, the guitars fire off one eastern sounding riff after another to my ears. For certain from further east than her Romanian roots. It is just a starting point for what is to come.

No matter what sort of genre the band explores, you can hear a few different bands as influence as well, the rock element is always up front. The guitar(s) will play a loud riff or lead line, that always excites. They set off Jolien Grünberg as well. The two match their intentions no little on Kill Your Darlings. Slowly but surely it becomes clear that the album is one big party the band leads you to and through.

Recently, I read on the website Musicmeter the comment that Dutch bands seldom excited the writer. I answered that I tend to disagree. GUNMOLL delivered the latest point of proof. Kill Your Darlings is an extremely exciting record and GUNMOLL is ready for more. This ought to be a breakthrough album.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Kill Your Darlings here:

https://gunmoll.bandcamp.com/album/kill-your-darlings