Get ready because Daniel Sanders (vocals/guitar), Zoran Trivic (guitar/piano), Brad Campbell (bass) and Rob Nassif (Drums) are about to hit the big time with their newest release Breed Obsession.
This is Gyroscope’s 3rd album and follows on from their 2005 sophomore release Are you involved, which was recorded in LA by producer/mixer Mark Trombino (The Living End, Blink 182 & Jimmy Eat World). While this album perfectly showcased the tight knit and energetic nature of the band, Zoran has recently admitted that Mark’s production was “very clinical, in that they recorded with the drums first, then we come to lay down guitar tracks for the drums, [with] the vocals sort of put on at the end”.
This inflexible method may explain why Gyroscope parted ways with Mark and decided to record the initial Breed Obsession tracks (Snakeskin) at the RnR studio in South Australia. When they sent this demo material to producer Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers), they receiving the thumbs up and headed over to the UK for the first time to record the remaining tracks at the Elevator studio in Liverpool.
The free form environment and recording process allowed each of the band members to jam in their own circle of power (basically a string of lights) and feed off each other’s rock vibes. This style lends the album an infectious enthusiasm and energy that captures the feeling of a live Gyroscope set. Dave summarises the new album as “A really eclectic record with heavier than Foo Fighters riffing at one end to beautiful Beatles‘y acoustic songs at the other taking in a Pink Floyd homage along the way”. I think this record really rocks!”
After hearing some of the new material at a recent gig I can also attest that Gyroscopes new material will seaminglessly blend into their future set lists. The heavy hitting Snakeskin, 1981 and Weapon, Enemy, Friend are instant rock classics while the diverse sounds of Her Design and Polyphones & multidors add further strength to an already impressive repertoire.
Track Rundown
Snakeskin: What a great start to the album. It probably needs little introduction, as it’s received plenty of radio play after its release back in November 2007. Since then it’s picked up a number of accolades including being voted to the # 16 spot on Triple J Hottest 100 and being the # 1 most requested song on Triple J’s Super request and JTV programs. Recently it also won two WAMi awards including most popular single and most popular music video. They recorded the later in a crop circle in Wiltshire, South London (the same field featured on the front of the Led zeppelin Remasters album).
This heavily layered track begins with a simple piano piece from Zoran and some soft vocals from Daniel. The subtle drumming then bridges into the epic chorus that’s belted out with typical Gyroscope passion. This fantastic track contains all the bands signature sounds that fans have come to love including breakdowns, catchy guitar hooks & a screaming chorus. The heavily layered sounds (a subtle bell ring in the background) and production quality also manage to showcase their progression and what to expect on the rest of the album.
All In On One: The resonating off key guitar chords and angst filled lyrics provide a darker tone than some of Gyro’s previous work while still retaining a catchy vibe. When the chorus comes around you’ll probably be singing along with the lines “Hey, hey I admit I messed you up, I truly thought you would learn by now!” With a running time of 3.20 this one shouts out more hey’s & woe’s than a horse rider (26 to be exact), which will undoubtedly make it a popular live choice.
These Days: A simply classic guitar riff from Zoran starts things off while a ticking drumbeat supplements Daniels “Un, Deux, Trois” count in. Memorable guitar chords and tight drumming perfectly complement what will surely become another Gyroscope classic. The sing along chorus “I’ll figured out your name come morning, but your scent is something I should know, ” has been stuck in my head for days.
Australia: This is essentially a romantic ballad about home which was obviously written while on tour overseas “Such a long, long way back home”. The subtle drumbeats and acoustic guitar supplement Daniel’s vocals and the string work (Violin & Cello), gives this song some extra depth. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear it some more before next Australia day. While the passive beat and absence of a catchy chorus do slightly interrupt the albums momentum this song shows that the bands equal capable of creating melodic numbers as well as the harder hitting ones.
O.K: A creepy baseline starts with the words “You know that window in your basement, I used to sleep outside it. Now I’m inside hiding from you”. The reverberating vocals and thudding guitar chords work well at conveying the stalker motif but also hold it back from reaching it’s full potential. An accelerated rhythm or some classic Gyro screaming would have really made this track something special but in the end the title of the song sums it up best, just O.K.
Weapon. Enemy. Friend: A killer bass chord kicks things off before the drums throw you into the gritty beat. This is the most straight up rock track on the album with powerful lyrics “ I shot the shit, I fucked the fake” and plenty of thrash heavy guitar chords. Just like O.K, there are plenty of creepy vocals but they slide more into the background this time and let the instruments do the talking. When I first heard this song at their last gig, the distinct jam session at the end of the song really stood out and had the whole band feeding off each other. Now that I’m more familiar with this fantastic number I can’t wait to hear it again live.
Polyphones & Multidors: This one just oozes atmosphere and has a real unique style unlike anything the boys have tried before. The slight jazz melody and relaxed structure gives this song a laid back breezy vibe. As usual Daniels fantastic singing melds perfectly into the guitars, which provide an interesting droning accompaniment. This highly atmospheric song will undoubtedly become one of my favorites.
The River Between: The subdued tempo and lack of distinct guitar tune make this song initially difficult to absorb. It seems to be missing the spark of previous song and only grabs your attention in the final minute when the pace picks up and some yodeling like vocals appear. I’m still undecided on this one and may need a few more listens before I make up my mind.
Her Design: Another enjoyable acoustic track that starts off with some Tambourine. While the chorus is rather repetitive it’s to Daniel’ credit that he can pull off lines like “Girl you look so good in the evening light, when the moon is right and the stars are bright”, without sounding sappy or cliché. At its roots it’s obviously a love song but the country like melody and background siren sound give this one a slightly hypnotic ambiance.
1981: Their second single starts with an electronic drumbeat that quickly shifts into gear with some crashing symbols and some tight guitar work. Rob’s industrious drumming is the real highlight of this track and help complement the catchy as hell hooks and the chorus “Pain won’t go away, even when the drugs say, I won’t forget”. It took me a while to get my head around the synthesiser style beat but this song has now become my favorite from the album.
Silver Heart: A moody sounding track with twanging guitar and thudding drums that picks up some speed and screaming vocals along the way. Brad gets a chance to show off his excellent bass skills while the collective shout of “Roof top, shout it out” gives everyone’s vocals a good workout.
Time: This multi layered finale is a fitting end to the album and demonstrates that Gyroscope have truly evolved into a dynamic and mature quartet. The masterful piano work and ambient sound effects evoke an ethereal Pink Floyd feel and Daniels singing reaches all new heights. Every time I hear the lyrics “Like a candle in the window” I’m reminded of the Elton John song and I can already imagine the fans swaying with their lighters out at the next concert.
After giving Breed Obsession a number of solid listens I can undoubtedly say that Gyroscope have smashed my expectations. They’ve delivered a memorable and diverse rock album with a perfect mixture of light and heavy music that should appeal to a broad demographic of listeners. The high production values also push the band into some new and interesting areas while still delivering the distinct Gyro sounds that fans have come to love.
As of writing the Breed Obsession album has now hit the #1 spot in the ARIA charts after it’s first week of release. Well done guys!
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