VALAL – Gravetown

VALAL are a synth punk rock band from Croatia. Pulling inspiration mostly from bands such as Joy Division and New Order, VALAL offer very little to differentiate themselves from their influences.

Repetitive, lazy synths are somehow a highlight among the awful, repetitive monotonal vocals on Mjesečev Odraz. Much the same could be said about Monotonija and Kožu mi reži. The exception is easily the title track, Gravetown, which beautifully embraces the album the same way the closer Dagger closes Souvlaki by Slowdive. Its acoustic elements are impeccably spaced among its warm and inviting atmosphere, as the vocals gorgeously glide over the top. The bland synth pop unfortunately returns on Terminal Man, though.

Gravetown is not a strong enough album to revive the synth punk rock scene, though not even an album from its pioneers could revive such a dead genre. Here’s hoping VALAL either breathe some fresh ideas into it in future, either by fusing it with another genre or attempting grander compositions. There’re already too many junk synth rock albums in the scene.

Bad

Listen to it here:

https://valal220.bandcamp.com/album/gravetown

VALAL – Gravetown