Canada! The home of maple syrup, moose (or should that be meese…), ice hockey, positive demeanours, and…..Truck Violence. Hailing from Quebec, Truck Violence aren’t a band who are interested in colouring inside the lines, and The Weathervane Is My Body is a better album because of it. Blending noise rock, post-hardcore and even some lo-fi folk, the band have a knack for turning emotional chaos into compelling and engaging music. This is an album filled to bursting point with songs that feel raw, restless and completely unfiltered.
The album thrives on contrast. Tracks like Jaundiced and Reaching For A Mother and Compelled By Christy crash around between abrasive guitar work, dissonant harmonies, harsh vocals and a surprising amount of melody. It’s no surprise that these guys have been compared to bands like Chat Pile or La Dispute. Whilst, elsewhere on the record, House Caught Fire and Gerard, Be Quiet pay homage to the mid 2000’s heyday of lo-fi acoustic emo-folk (think Neutral Milk Hotel, Elliott Smith, Bright Eyes and Iron and Wine). It’s music that constantly feels on the verge of falling apart (both emotionally and physically), yet it somehow always lands exactly where it needs to. The wonderfully named album closer, Kindly, Wash Yourself, is the amalgamation of these softer, fragile moments mixed with the high-energy, explosive outbursts…it’s a four-and-a-half minute bipolar experience that encapsulates everything that makes up Truck Violence’s unique sound!
Lyrically, there’s a kind of bruised honesty running throughout the record. Although there are a few moments where they allow themselves to wallow in their despair, they generally seem to be more focused on channeling frustration, uncertainty and self-reflection into something deeply cathartic. Even at its loudest, there’s a beating heart beneath the feedback and distortion that is inherently human, something that allows the listener to connect to the music.
The band’s willingness to embrace imperfection gives the album its character, polished edges would only get in the way here. There’s also an unpredictability that keeps each listen engaging. Just when you think you’ve settled into a groove, the band throws in an unexpected change of pace or melody. It’s a bit like assembling flat-pack furniture without the instructions…confusing at first, mildly stressful in places, but completely satisfying once everything clicks together.
The Weathervane Is My Body is an album that I have returned to regularly in the short time since it was released, and with every revisit, its tangled emotions and adventurous songwriting become a little clearer. It’s messy, intense and wonderfully alive, the kind of record that lingers long after the final note has faded.
Best Paired with – A spare tyre, a doctors note, and a pair of tennis rackets
Reviewed by Bryn.
Truck Violence – The Weathervane Is My Body is out now on The Flenser.
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