Communal are a Dublin four-piece who write compulsive post-grunge anthems in the vein of Smashing Pumpkins and Red Kross. Their debut, Passport, has a timeless quality – its songs possess a familiar ring yet Communal never sound like anyone but themselves.
The meek vocals of frontman Jools King help define the band’s sound. Sadly, his reedy delivery might also be one of their failings. For all their grasp of melody, Communal lack the killer punch. Their songs intrigue but do not draw the listener in – one senses that they lack the confidence to truly bowl an audience over.
Pretty tunes are all very well. However, Communal need to beef up their sound if they are to be contenders. Otherwise, they may be forever doomed to the status of nice guys who didn’t really have the cojones to make the big time. What a terrible shame that would be. With a bit more swagger in their stride, Communal could be one of the most exciting home-grown bands around.