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Reviews
Album review: Telltale – Telltale
It’s been a long time coming, but Telltale’s self-titled debut LP is finally here, offering a peep at their heavier potential…
- Words:
- Rachel Roberts
Out there somewhere is a person shaking their fist at the sky and proclaiming that guitar music is a dying art. We’d like to introduce them to Telltale. It’s taken the Richmond rock quartet half a decade to release a full-length album, and when you make your start by dropping EP after EP, it can be hard to match up with the anticipation that awaits your debut. Yet now that it’s here, this self-titled record feels wholly exciting.
There’s a thick, robust spine of guitar that carries it thanks to axe wielder Bryce Marshall, snatching you right in from opener w2b. There’s something grand about its high-gain sound that feels a little classic rock. Though mostly composed of pop-punk and sulky ’00s grunge soundscapes, this album also packs in little pockets of heaviness. And when Telltale do heavy, they do it well.
EDDY is a testament to this, bringing some sludgy top-fret riffing in a mini-breakdown where frontman John Carteret showcases his vocal abilities, while similarly impressive heaviness is found on I’ve Given More To A Lesser God. Its peaceful outro provides a segue into Gettin’ Sober, where they deliver some of the most personal lyricism of the album.
As a debut, its self-titled status feels worthy given the graft that’s gone into making Telltale the band they are so far. Sometimes vocals feel like they disappear into the mix, but things still feel colourful. This record serves up riffs ranging from the delicate and shimmering, to the djent nose-scrunchers, and its heavier chunks are a godsend, making things feel far more exciting. If a second record were to arrive in the next couple of years, we’d be keeping our fingers crossed for Telltale to lift the lid on their ability to crank things up even more.
Verdict: 4/5
For fans of: You Me At Six, Boston Manor, Trash Boat
Telltale is out now via Rude