Label: By The Time It Gets Dark
Released: 1st February 2019
Rating: ★★★★
Spielbergs have created a determined debut with ‘This Is Not The End’. A nostalgic effort, the album is assured punk rock, with a fresh energy and sentiment maintained throughout, where raw feedback and clashing instrumentation are the fuel to the Oslo trio’s fire.
‘Distant Star’ is sing-a-long punk rock that feels as if it wants more, where the band’s unwavering ambition succeeds and where the impression that they are sincerest of songwriters is made so early on in the record. Spielbergs are emotionally conscious on this album, exploring several thoughts and feelings through their instruments; the clashing rock of ‘NFL’ feels stratospheric, with stadium-sized guitar solos that close on soothing vocals.
There’s a chilling and determined feeling on ‘We Are All Going To Die’, that’s epitomised through hurried drumming. The band’s softer side is explored on several tracks too: ‘Familiar’ is airy and spacey, interludes of ‘S.K’ and ‘McDonalds (Please Don’t Fuck Up My Order)’ feel delicately beautiful, and the acoustic folk of ‘Sleeper’ is a highlight of this passionate record.
The most cohesive tracks, however, are ‘4AM and ‘Forever’, where Spielbergs’ craftsmanship is truly at its best. ‘This Is Not The End’ is an organic rock record that wants to defy any limitations.
