What? Hailing from Turku, Finland's top-notch noise rock gang does full breaking and takes the Postpunk exit? Well, it actually sounds worse as it is. It is just that the Finns got deprived of its gruff and ugly dynamics I so loved on the predecessor Bareback.
Smile Less is by no means a bad record! The epic breath of songs such as Grounding is amazing but the ruthless push, the aggressive revolt and the suppressed anger, which made the predecessor a dangerous time bomb, has flown by. By the way, bands such as Idles and Viagra Boys do it similar yet with bigger success.
Good to see that THROAT did not do the entire record with a handbrake put on. Shots kicks ass and Deadpan gently builds a wall-of-noise. Though, the second half of Smile Less lacks of the feeling, the atmosphere of a mass confrontation, a pub brawl. You know what I mean? But the distorted bass on the entire record is nailing it!
I like Less Smile but need to listen to it detached from Bareback, which was one of my album highlights in 2018.
With Smile Less THROAT did an album that is somewhat torn, with an experimental and dark approach, which could have been released on Touch&Go Records too. For the Postpunk hipster Smile Less is too weird, for the Noiserock hooligan it is too undecided. If Smile Less can attract people in between… let's see. If you feel interested, give Smile Less a go. THROAT can still write great songs!
There is a certain perplexity with this record to be read out. 8 points though.