The Kuwait music scene is and always has been in state of fluctuation. At times, it’s causing more explosions than a direct hit on a fireworks factory, and at others it’s drier than Gandhi’s flip-flops. I had almost given up hope on hearing ANY original recordings coming out of my country of origin (a slight exaggeration but you get what I mean). That was until I listened to the debut offering of grungey newcomers Reset String. For the first time in literally years, there’s something fresh being added to Kuwait’s music, and it comes in the form of Ancient Future.
Album opener “OPD (Obsessive Personality Disorder)” eases us into a groove smoother than Michael Jackson’s dance moves, followed by a bite in the form of a great chugging verse riff. Following this is “Man in the Box” –esque “Queen Paranoia.” This absolutely reeks of Alice in Chains, in the best way possible! Guitarist Khaled Al-Hashash displays his newfound riffing prowess. This is Eclipsed only by the sandpaper coated tones of vocalist Fahad Al-Khaldi. Honestly, I’ve yet to hear vocals as free as this. Al-Khaldi is easily the best vocalist to come out of the region in a while, managing to shift between softer styles for the more melodic hinted songs such as “Pick Me Up” and “Ghosts” alongside wails and growls that could give Dave Grohl a run for his money! Some of the songs are probably the most experimental thing to come out of Kuwait in a long time. This is probably best exemplified by “The Last Rhino”, featuring a sitar infused intro before launching into one hell of a funky bass line and a softly distorted guitar-line, once again being peppered by brilliantly contrasting vocals. Lead single “Think Twice” is perfectly designed to be catchy, and almost feels like “Bleach” era Nirvana. Encapsulated by melodically shouted lyrics (if such a thing exists) and drawing a very fine line between aggression and groove, and subsequently making it ever more clear where the band have drawn their influence from.
The album’s true crowning glory (and my personal vote for a future music video!) is the aptly titled “Monkey Walk.” It is here that the band clearly display the most important aspect of making any record; it’s clear that they’re having fun. Whether it’s Aziz Baqer’s signature blend of groove infused drumming, Al-Khaldi’s melodically punctuated scream, Nadeem Rahimi’s penchant for smooth basslines or Al-Hashash’s use of Jerry Cantrell’s wah pedal (caught you out you sneaky boy), “Monkey Walk” encapsulates this record perfectly. Khaled Al-Hashash lets rip on a brilliant solo, blending a healthy dose of wah-pedal with more shredding than Leatherface on a night out, displaying a clear progression in musicianship.
I cannot big this record up enough. Considering the fact that “Ancient Future” is a debut record, I for one am really looking forward to what these guys can accomplish. “Ancient Future” is a record that clearly displays why grunge became popular in the first place. Alongside its signature groove and iconic vocals, it was the almost viceral freedom that attracted listeners and musicians alike. I’m giving “Ancient Future” a rating of:
“Ancient Future” – 8.5/10
“Ancient Future” is out August 29th via the band’s Bandcamp page.
Mouths For War 