GUERILLA STATE

Guerilla State are an emerging Irish rock group from Belfast, with a strong musical commentary on the social political intricacies of the modern world.  The group is made up of two members from Ireland and Australia, Guerilla State offers a global perspective on governmental affairs and failings in the age of misinformation: shedding a light of transparency, unrestricted and uninfluenced from the pressures if social conformity.  The group offer a fearless form of expression in an age of artistic suppression, a philosophy of autonomy. 

As soon as you hear 'Autonomy: Part One' you know you are in for an insane listen, the EP is 6 tracks of soaring rock, with elements of electronic, hints of early 2000s rock and orchestral sounds as well.  Kicking off with 'Harbinger', the track starts with a fuse of electronica and electric guitars and it quite simply takes you into another dimension, before launching into a blazing guitar riff, driving drums accompanied by gritty vocals that emphasis and lift the intensity of the track even higher.  'Ready Aim Fire' will definitely aim and fire its absolute soaring rhythm right into your ears, again bringing those flying guitar melodies and a drumbeat that does not let up at all.  There is elements of 2000s rock particularly in the opening guitar riff that will fill you with nostalgia.  This track will certainly get you on your feet and it will no doubt send the crowd crazy in a live setting.  'Never Taking Me' (their debut single) at the beginning sounds like it is going to go in the acoustic direction, but you are soon proven wrong when the song makes an entrance with a full on wall of rock, of thumping drums, driving electric guitars keeping that same driving tempo as previous tracks.  The wide use of instruments, brings a massive sound as it progresses throughout we hear an orchestral section being introduced with violins, pianos and brass building the intensity to a soaring orchestral break that will send chills down your spine.  This track is definitely a throw your hands in the air and belt out type of song.  When an orchestra meets rock it produces a stunning sound.  

'The Terror Storm'  brings a more prominent bass line, with the guitars, drums and other elements dancing over the top of it, creating that emotional atmosphere.  There is a lot that is happening instrumentally, however this does not take away from the passionate vocal line.  Everything is in a place that allows you to listen and take in its entire surroundings both lyrically and musically.  These guys definitely like to tug at your heart strings with those soaring sounds from the vocals, violin and guitars.  The track switches to a grungy sound where the bass line becomes more muddy alongside the guitars, the vocals drop off allowing the instrumental to close out the song.  'Fracture' switches things up, unlike the previous songs where we have a full on rock opening this one opens with a calming piano melody and a moderate drum beat that slows things down a little bit.  The track still has those atmospheric tones from the guitars and the mix of the orchestra coming through, picking up the pace towards the end. The final track 'Bandit Country'  follows a similar pattern as 'Fracture' starting things off slow and mellow this time with a warm acoustic guitar melody, which invites you right in.  The vocals bring a more deeper tone that gives the song more depth and lower tones than previous songs, where they soared above, this one brings that down and allows you to fall in deep.   

What I have noticed about these guys is that they work their music in a way that every single part of each song pulls at you, whether its the passionate delivery of the vocals, the electric guitars when they soar above or the intensity of the orchestra.  There is something in each song that grabs hold of you and you will be unable to pull yourself away from it, this definitely is an EP that you have to listen to.  

'Autonomy: Part One'  is due to release on the 5th of March so keep your eyes peeled for it!  In the mean time you can take a listen to their debut single 'Never Taking Me'. 

INSTAGRAM - guerillastate

FACEBOOK - GuerillaState

TWITTER - @GuerillaState