Single/Video Review: Marigold

I clicked the five stars score before putting a letter to type. Kiwi-born but Brisbane-based heavy rockers These Four Walls are a professional unit. No. Doubt. About. That.

Award winners over in Queensland (best song, White Lies, in 2021) and with trans-Tasman tours in support of Devilskin and The Butterfly Effect under their belts – not to mention support slots for Disturbed, Nickelback, Seether, Karnivool and more – one would expect an offering of tight, memorable riffs and guitar duets propped up by a beefy and aggressive bottom end with new single release Marigold. This single does not disappoint in any way there.

With Brad Vickers (drums) and Elliot Burton (bass) keeping the rhythm section going in thunder-god fashion, lead guitarist Gray Vickers and vocalist/guitarist Steve Gibb sit in, around, over and all around with a deeply memorable riff-based twin axe-attack. Mixed by Dead Letter Circus guitarist Luke Palmer and mastered by Leon Zervis at 301 Studios (the name Muse ring a bell?), the balance is perfect to the Nth degree. Steve Gibb’s vocal performance puts me in mind (slightly) of Mike Patton, but that’s not intended to take anything away from a pitch perfect delivery the timbre of which suits this music to a tee. Versatility in vocal style is shown too with a growl to compliment the melodic texture to the vocal.

The song itself? Composition is very cool, with a great drop that doesn’t bring the song to a grinding halt but raises your head for a second, just in time for a second wave. Atmospheric and well timed. Lyrically intense and intriguing, it’s a song full of character and interest.

And there’s a video for me to review! Yay! Directed and shot by Dyllon Cross, edited by Dyllon and the bands drummer Brad Vickers, it’s not cluttered, it doesn’t try to tell a tale in abstract ways, and adds some imagery around the band playing that is enhancing of the overall visual effect and also the song it’s providing the visual for. I like uncomplicated yet entertaining videos, and this hits home.

I love my hard rock to sound like this. Give them a listen. If you like this, they’re playing Christchurch’s 12 Bar on Friday 17th February 2023, and following up at the Ding Dong Lounge in Auckland the following night. Go see!

Long lost is the wishing well.