Blis - No One Loves You

While their Facebook page says they were “born” in 2011, No One Loves You is the debut album from Blis, with only a four track EP to their name before this. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, they wear their post-rock and grunge influences on their sleeves for their first full length effort.

One of the staples of post-rock music is the dichotomy of the loud/quiet formula, with the themes of the music explored lyrically across both approaches. Blis deploy this with great skill, but if it’s an old trick which has worn thin for you, you won’t find anything new or compelling about it. ‘Dumb’ is as playful as they get, with lo-fi picking leading into a crashing wall of sound. “I’ll paint the whole wide world, I’ll paint it black” strains their lead singer, Aaron Gossett.

‘Stale Smoke’ sees them go two for two, but this time featuring hushed vocals before the real meat of the song kicks in. These two openers pay homage to their influences, but it feels like there is a genuine zest for the genre from the band. Comparatively, they’re louder than Manchester Orchestra but not quite as melodic or intelligent as Brand New.

There is always the growing feedback behind any quieter moments, letting you know that itchy riffs will soon be deployed. The bass holds great depth, both in terms of what is played as well as where it’s placed in the mix, often tightly following the guitars. If you can pick anything which might separate them from the crowd it would probably be the drumming - there isn't usually such restless drumming from these types of songs.

What this album is really missing is some pace, but that doesn’t appear to be Blis’ thing. Thankfully, there is enough to enjoy, from the odd bit of math-rock on ‘Ugly’ to the spotting of the religious lyrical themes. “I don’t want to lose my little boy to your God” seems to suggest new fatherhood doesn’t sit well for Gossett with someone’s religious leanings.

By the time you hit ‘Christian Girls’, you realise that this a melancholy, moody album best listened to when you’re wallowing in your own emotions. It’s no bad thing, it simply makes the songs feel groggy and tiresome at any other time. With both Manchester Orchestra and Brand New having released new albums recently, it seems like rather poor timing to try and push their own boat into the same arena.