There might be some justification to Tribes' billing as grunge revivalists if their debut didn't sound so English. True, there's a Seattle-derived chug to opener "Whenever" and "Himalaya" strains for the stadium pomp of Smashing Pumpkins. But Johnny Lloyd's vocals – part street-urchin husk, part theatrical flounce – and a fondness for grubby London vignettes mean they could just as easily be Libertines acolytes with distortion pedals. And although they mix styles enough to semi‑redeem themselves, they're still some way short of living up to their influences.
Contributor
Ally Carnwath
Ally Carnwath writes on Africa and music for the Guardian and Observer
Ally Carnwath
The GuardianTramp
