More about: eades

Having quietly been earning the attention of fans and critics alike since their debut singles in late 2019, Leeds-based art-punk outfit Eades now seem ready to make their momentum count with the release of their debut album Delusion Spree. Self-produced and recorded live to give every song a natural and more authentic feel, it makes for a fun, frantic and ultimately attention-grabbing first outing. 

Across the album’s twelve tracks, the quintet jump chaotically between various styles—from rough and ready garage rock, through to more nuanced and melodic new wave passages. Lyrically, the band pull from their own experiences to discuss addiction, mental health and the turmoil of personal relationships, but never once let the subject matter become overwhelming or their tone too preachy. 

What’s also noticeable is the album’s ferocious pace, with each track segueing into the next as the band hurtle forward at 100 miles an hour, eclectically bouncing between different guitar patterns. This may have been influenced in part by the album’s full-throttle recording process, with Eades given just two weeks to lay the whole thing down at their farmhouse recording studio in the Yorkshire Dales. The result is an album full of raw energy and creativity, even if there is still room for improvement as well.

Opener 'Reno' makes for a suitably rowdy introduction, with Harry Jordan’s shouty punk vocals bellowing out over some hectic guitars. 'Backseat Politic' is a slight change of pace with pounding drums and slightly more melodic textures, which is then swiftly replaced by single 'Ever Changing' as it breaks through with frenzied synths and more stop-start riffing. 

'A Welcome Goodbye' is then probably the closest Eades get to delivering a straight-up anthem, a punchy number with a catchy chorus, but still with a characteristic wildness to it. Title track 'Delusion Spree' is similarly one of the more immediate tracks, with a blistering guitar solo helping it to stand out from the pack. 'Former Warnings Cluster' and 'Voodoo Doll' both bring with them slight shades of early Arctic Monkeys but with added synths in the palette, with the latter of the two tracks incredibly the result of a 2am jamming session. 

A couple of the album’s biggest highlights can then be found towards the back end of the record, the first being 'I’m Holding Back Your Hair'. The record’s most melodic and easy-going track, it sees Lily Fontaine (synths/percussion) take on lead vocal duty to add a welcome new dimension to their vintage rock sound. 'Parachute Games' then follows, initially starting out with grungey vocals and a noisy, riotous chorus, before evolving into a great slice of Strokes-inspired indie rock in the song’s latter half.

With Delusion Spree, Eades deliver a debut with plenty of promise, using a collage of nostalgic guitar sounds to forge music that feels both familiar but also fresh and vibrant. Although the chaotic nature and rough production won’t be for everyone, the vigour and charm throughout this debut should win them plenty of new fans.

Delusion Spree arrives 4 March via Heist or Hit.

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More about: eades