Review Summary: the ducky's debut
Toeing the line between melody and aggression,
We’re Not Here to Be Loved is like a captivating two-sided story. Fleshwater’s debut balances the group’s ‘veiny tendencies’ with a sense of tranquility. Throughout the entirety of the record, catchy melodic progressions and dreamy vocals are contrasted by eerily dissonant riffs and abrasive screams. “Baldpate Driver” and “Closet” showcase the darker slow burn melodies of
We’re Not Here to Be Loved, full of hazy guitar progressions complemented by Mirsy’s soaring cleans and Anthony’s backing melodies and screams. “Enjoy,” a surprising cover of Bjork, is a brooding track that leans heavily into the eerie side of Fleshwater, with Anthony’s distorted cleans haunting their way throughout the song. On the other hand, “Kiss the Ladder” and “Woohoo” display the high energy of the group, featuring upbeat drum grooves and gritty guitars amplified by Mirsy’s beautiful melodies.
However, the Fleshwater sound is best exemplified through the closer. “Foreign” showcases every side of the group’s capabilities, displaying the perfected balance between melody and aggression. Opening with heavy dissonant riffs, similar to that of Vein.fm, the track soon evolves into hazy guitars that lay down a fluid background for Mirsy and Anthony to trade off vocal duties. Mixing dreamy lead work with the nightmarish melodic progressions creates an eerie juxtaposition between the beautiful and the abrasive. Moreover, “Foreign” combines the various moods presented throughout
We’re Not Here to Be Loved, bringing together the high energy moments of the verses, the slow burner feeling of the bridge, and the broodingly dark conclusion of the album. This closer encapsulates the entirety of the record in a single track, tying together Fleshwater’s outstanding debut. Yet “Foreign,” while capturing the uniqueness of the group in one song, makes you want to relisten to all of these moments individually. With each passing listen, Fleshwater draws you in for more.
We’re Not Here to Be Loved is more than just an impressive debut; it is a statement of a band that has already found their stride and delivers.
