Finnish rockers Headphone Jacks release single ‘Black Flies’ from their forthcoming new album ‘Discipline’

Review by Phil M.

Headphone Jacks have been busy releasing singles from their new album ‘Discipline’ which is due out in April. On the heels of ‘Lunatic’ and ‘Space Ghost’ comes this offering which, in the words of the band “is about themes of darkness, fear, and existential exploration.” They go on to say, “The lyrics also touch on themes of sacrifice and rituals. Mention of black flies and the struggle to escape them adds a sense of entrapment and despair.”

The track kicks off with an interesting chord sequence on distorted guitar, which, on dying away is supported by a good solid chunky bass sound. There are elements of Nirvana in the verse with a clean picked guitar sound along with plaintive vocals.

There’s a good riff in the pre-chorus section before the chorus itself which features multi-layered guitars creating a huge wall of sound. There are also vocal harmonies behind the droning refrain which back up that wall of sound and set the band apart from your standard grunge like fare. The middle eight pares the sound back with good and extensive use of feedback and harmonics and has spoken words and then a chugging riff taking the song back into the full-on final chorus.

The clever use of dynamics and guitar feedback between the verses and choruses maintain interest throughout and this track gives a sense of what’s likely to come from the new album.

For fans of Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam etc. etc.

Headphone Jacks are:

Jaakko Anttonen (vocals, bass)

J-P Herlevi (guitar, keys, vocals)

Riku-Pekka Lappalainen (guitar, vocals)

Aleksi Lappalainen (drums, percussions, vocals)