Tendril are a hard-rocking punk-edged band with determined intentions. Right from the outset, they send out a vibrant clutter of frantic, yet accessible noise which for the entire, albeit brief, forty minutes gives the listener very little chance to catch breath.
“The Invisibles” is a short thump-along blitz that sets the pace for the rest of the album. It’s a pace that “Riders of the Worm” keenly feeds off, speeding things up to a high-octane attack with a craftily interwoven Moroccan feel to the song. Sounding more than a little similar to the melodies of Iron Maiden’s “To Tame a Land”, “Riders of the Worm” is the first of a handful of fantastically implemented tracks.
The breakneck pace and catchy lyrics carry brilliantly through “The Love is Dying”, “No Cure” and “Sky-strike the Terror Dome”. The last of which deserves a mention for the title alone, but is also a short and addictive rumble that keeps “Anaphase Baby!” ticking along nicely at a stage where most albums succumb to the inevitable filler run. “No Cure” is also full of cracking lyrics and sumptuous guitar riffs that resonate to the end of the album in uplifting and memorable style.
There are regrettably moments that aren’t up to the high standards set by the band, but these are thankfully in the minority. “Hell 2.0” just seems like a song by The Hives that didn’t quite go according to plan and despite the phonic assault that is “Moonbender” it is really little more than two minutes of complete mediocrity.
Viewed as a whole however, “Anaphase Baby” is a great way to be introduced to a band that clearly have the direction and sound to carry them forward. Able to turn up the typical punk sound by adding a blistering variant of rock, Tendril have succeeded if only because they have maintained an ability to create catchy vocals beneath all of the mayhem!
