Words by Scott Simpson:

Absurd by Declan Welsh and The Decadent West has been released, and its is beautiful, people. What’s absurd about this track is its distorted punk roots yet compellingly melodic guitar, and vocals with a hint of 80’s dance groove. The band clearly know how to switch thing’s up.

With their earlier track ‘Good Person, Bad Things’, the band had solidified this hard-hitting, “fuck you” attitude that is lost and forgotten with a lot of modern punk. In all fairness, this tune doesn’t entirely represent this; but it is admirable that the band are trying new things.

The track has a funky, dance-like beat, which would allow more of The Decadent West’s followers to get a bit of groove on when being played at some punk’s gaff. It’s definitely a tune you can do more than bang your head to. There’s a particular chord progression at 1:57 that reminds me of The Orwells’ ‘Black Francis’ intro. Positively a step in the rock n roll direction if you ask me.

Every time I tune in, I hear something new which has me sitting there thinking “right that’s dope”, with a surprised look on my face. Welsh’s singing is fairly different to his usual angry shouting and talking within his tracks; not that there’s anything wrong with it. The tune carries a mesmeric synth wave and electric drum beat that would be admittedly advanced, but not out of place in an 80’s club. It then calls back to its heavy hitting indie rock area.

What’s capturing about this band is how each track can basically say “this doesn’t represent us”. By this I mean the band can do anything, and go anywhere; which is exactly what they are doing with their fast approaching performance in Paris at The Oberkampf Festival in May.

I personally really enjoy this band and suspect that they’re exactly what the people are after. All in all, Welsh breathes lyrical fire whilst his Decadent West flap their wings in a funky and banging manner. The entire band really take off in this new single; which will have you in rhythmic motion for the three minutes and thirty seven seconds it runs for. Give it a listen if you haven’t already.

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