Review: Louse ‘Buyer’s Remorse’
Scum rock as a genre label usually conjures up images of GG Allin, The Mentors, and The Dwarves, intentionally disgusting and offensive (whatever the latter qualifies as these days) legendary outfits from the good ol’ USA.
We in the UK have produced something in a similar vein in the form of low-lives (their term) Louse, who emanate from Newcastle upon Tyne and are The Captain (vocals), Septic Pete (guitar), The King of Sting (guitar), Uncle Brutus (guitar), Mister P. (drums) and Dieta Di Patate (slide bass).
This isn’t the first time the band have featured on The Shaman since their formation in 2020. They debuted in 2024 with Creep Call, which was covered by Shaman colleague Martin Williams, and they’re now back with the follow-up Buyer’s Remorse following a recent preview of the single Best Laid Plans on this very site. The clincher for me in choosing to review this release is the band’s involvement with Riot Season who have been responsible for putting out some truly remarkable records by Brainbombs, Hibushibire, Dope Purple and Bruxa Maria to name a few.
The aforementioned Best Laid Plans is an unrelenting pummelling assault, the kind which you’d have gotten from the Lower East Side of New York in the early ‘90s before gentrification took over. Sonically speaking Unsane, Surgery, Pussy Galore; that kind of thing, before noise-rock became hip. A solid start. The title track, Buyers Remorse, takes the squeals and feedback of NOLA giants EyeHateGod but instead of southern rock inclinations, this has more of a grungy vibe, like an evil Nirvana or unhinged Mudhoney. There’s a propulsive quality present throughout which makes for some truly exhilarating listening.
Rags And Tatters is swampy sounding, imbibing from the best of what The Birthday Party and the Scientists had to offer, with a little Gun Club mixed in for good measure; of course I was going to love this. The Wastepipe Ripper with its angular post-hardcore grooves and strong satirical edge recalls mclusky’s recent work, which serves to make it a strangely catchy number. Comfort is an odd title for a song which is anything but, but then one has to assume that’s probably the point. This is vintage industrial-tinged noise-rock in the form of overlooked West Midlands crew Head Of David, it’s that good it could easily have fitted in with the best cuts to be found on Dustbowl.
the darkness absolutely dominates proceedings to brilliant effect…
Legal Loophole is akin to Dinosaur Jr during their initial mid-to-late ‘80s run which saw the members moving away from their hardcore roots, instead incorporating elements of Sonic Youth-style noise. Absolutely sublime. Wheel hints at Couch Slut and as with the five-piece New York crew, the darkness absolutely dominates proceedings to brilliant effect; meanwhile Meat Slide sees proto-punkers The Stooges making their mark and a bruising The Jesus Lizard approach is evident too, providing what is an absolute belter of a tune.
The Deer Caller is Wire at their slower, most menacing best ala Reuters, and it’s easy to forget how heavy that band could be. Finally, Potato Diet 26-27, despite its quirky, silly name, summons the spirits of grunge godfathers Green River, pre-major label era Soundgarden and Surgery, especially the bluesier tendencies of the latter on their superb 1990 debut Nationwide. This affords for not just a suitably murky conclusion to the record but also a favourite of yours truly.
Sophomore albums can be tricky affairs, effectively sinking a band’s career before it’s even begun, especially if the debut was a promising success. Rest assured that’s definitely not the case here; highly recommended.
Label: Riot Season
Band Links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Reza Mills
