Album Review: Basht., Poor Advice

Poor Advice, the debut from Dublin four-piece Basht., is the sound of a band deciding how many of the moral guidelines they were raised with are worth keeping.

They work through it over dark, atmospheric rock with a nu-metal edge, and it's clear this is a group who know how to use dynamics. 'Dive' pairs a waltzing rhythm with sparse, Radiohead-like verses; the slow, clean guitars of 'Moth' are filled with power and emotion; and 'Vermilion Reptilian' is beautifully intense.

But the true standout is 'Terror TV', which growls with both a driving bassline and a hypnotic, Parquet Courts-style riff, while also boasting a satisfyingly nasty guitar solo. It's sharp too, touching on desensitisation, and how easily people are swayed by fear on their phones.

Indeed, the political edge and suspicion of authority run through the record. 'Superchurch' grapples with religion; 'Circadia' uses biblical imagery to trace a cycle of suffering; and 'Kids Vs Guns' – inspired by Palestine – is mournful and anthemic.

All of this makes Poor Advice a heavy listen in more ways than one. For a band who spend an album doubting what they've been told, Basht. sound remarkably filled with conviction.

7.5/10