“It feels like I’m dying” is a heavy statement to open your band’s first recorded song with; the lyric hangs momentarily in a swamp of muted guitar before the big opening riff of Sirens confirms that heaviness is what Sidewinder are all about. Singer Jason Curtis unleashes a throaty “Heyeah” as a fuzz of guitar somewhere between grunge and stoner rock hammers down. I’m a sucker for a grotty riff, and you can practically hear the grime on the guitar strings.
This is not sensible music – it’s balls-to-the-wall black jeans and sticky floors music. I’ve spent enough nights in Valhalla to recognise the sounds and smells Wellington’s heavy rock scene, and Sidewinder fit neatly in. Sirens proves that these five lads are off to a beefy start. There are echoes of Alice in Chains and Kyuss in the mix. There is also a touch of Wellington’s Beastwars present in the big choruses – not surprising since both acts have recorded with engineer James Goldsmith.
Radio-friendly structure is always smart, as is the case here, but occasionally it’s nice to hear a slightly left-field aspect of the composition deviating from the established rules. In one such unexpected diversion there is an almost nu-metal moment of a gated delayed guitar just before the first verse kicks in. I hope that I’ll hear the band breaking more of these structural norms as they release more music. The riffs, rhythm and hooks are there already.
