Single Review: Beta

Christchurch has yielded a number of world-famous-in-NZ alternative rock bands throughout the history of the universe, and a new one to keep an eye on is Streakers. It’s unclear if any of the band members have ever disrobed and raced across a rugby stadium, but word has it that they have raised decibels and shaken plenty of ceilings in the South Island. Their latest sonic attack is Beta.

With vocals resembling a cross between early 2000’s Tool and Aotearoa’s own HLAH, the perfect complement to the unpolished singing would be grungey, overdriven guitar sounds – Which this track lathers on generously.

The dizzying main guitar riff kicks off and remains throughout almost the entirety of the song, evoking a whirlwind effect for the piece. The distortion of the main guitar is massively reminiscent of Queens of the Stone Age’s first LP, grunty yet smooth and buzzy. I’m not going to lie, this is made all the more impressive when I found out the vocals and guitar is manned by the same person. Kudos.

With the guitar holding the monopoly on the main rhythm, the drumbeat is set as a shuffle, a refreshing remedy to pop-rock tunes of the modern day. Mostly off-beat and reliant on hi-hat strikes, the bite of the verses are carried from lyric to lyric courtesy of the drumming. A simple yet important addition to the piece is the bassline in the last half of verses, adding a flowing counter-motion to the flurry of guitar action.

To really give the headbangers something to sink their necks into, the tempo goes half-time at the bridge and the groove deepens.

Beta sounds like an alternative radio hit lifted straight off of ol’ Channel Z’s weeknight rosters, a song to a sink a beer and headbang to at your mate’s parent’s place, no doubt guaranteed to be a wicked time when heard live and up loud.

Catch Streakers opening for These Four Walls alongside Elidi in Christchurch on 22nd February for a headbangin’ good time – Don’t miss it!