When you see a band recommended to you on Spotify called Goblin Cock, you can’t help but look twice. It’s a stupid, juvenile name and I figured I was in for some sort of fantasy-driven soundtrack to rolling 20-sided dice and knowledge checks, or maybe a fake-blood-spurting goregrind project.
Traumanaut is neither. Instead, it’s a pretty chilled affair—the sort of album you might put on for a relaxing drive to the beach.
Opener “Flowers Grow” pulls you into a nice, joyful, chuggy listen, whilst top track “A Tracing of Angels” takes us on a visit to the altar of Iommi with a bit more of a fuzzy, stoner rock sound. It’s melancholic and catchy. Think Smashing Pumpkins with added doom.
“Fifth Reich Bio-Dome” is a bit of a WTF moment (in a good way), as we’re treated to some intricate, mathy riffs that wouldn’t feel out of place on an early Biffy Clyro record.
The album is put together in a way whereby the tracks flow into one another almost seamlessly, which I do think becomes a bit of a weakness later on as some of the songs struggle to have much of an identity, and unless I was paying attention I’d think I was just listening to one long track.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable listen – I can’t speak about the artist’s previous releases or other projects, but this one has piqued my interest enough to at least check them out.
Best accompanied with a goblin sock? (Thanks, Bryn).
Reviewed By Steve.
Goblin Cock – Traumanaut is out now on Joyful Noise Recordings.
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