Seeing the tagline, “members of hardcore bands form indie-rock side project,” isn’t a surprise anymore. It happens almost monthly. We get it, you like Superchunk as much as you do Youth Of Today. That might sound like a criticism, but it’s not. Superchunk are a great band, and musicians should be able to express themselves in different ways; the point is that it’s not a shock to hear now.
The latest to do this are Supergenius. The Belgian band have a pedigree that includes Beecher, Oathbreaker, Rise and Fall and Blind To Faith: some of the most aggressive bands of the past 15 years. Perhaps the most shocking thing is just how far removed from the aforementioned bands their debut album, ‘Supertired’, actually sounds. It’s also refreshing that it doesn’t feel like a bandwagon jump or cash grab. It has heart, soul, and a garage band feel of friends jamming for nothing more than the love of creation.
While most bands of this ilk really do play up to the influence of our transatlantic cousins, Supergenius draw from a classic post hardcore sound that has a distinctly British twang, thanks to Manchester-born vocalist, Ed Godby. The songs are short, sharp, and inviting, with as much in common with Fabric as they do Quicksand or Husker Du.
One thing that is abundantly clear about Supergenius is that they are not an angry band. Despite the aggressive tendencies of the other bands they have involvement with, ‘Supertired’ have a coming of age, grown up feel to them. That’s not to say you can’t be grown up and play heavy music, but ‘All That’s Gold’ and ‘Charmer’ have very relaxed and refined feels. It’s a vibe that cruises through the album: very major key, melodious, and riddled with up-tempo hooks to latch on to.
There’s a theme of introspection and self-analysis running in Godby’s lyrics. ‘Acrobatics’ gives him the chance to let everyone know he has nothing left to prove, whereas ‘Kinda Wooden’ looks to the future with a deal of soul searching, and ‘A Serious Case Of Imposter Syndrome’ finds Godby tackling his own self-doubt head on. It’s this willingness to spill his guts that make Supergenius feel more real. That, and the fact the songs are so perfectly executed.
To say that Supergenius will set the world on fire would be wrong, but they aren’t here to reinvent the wheel; it seems fine as it is anyway. Instead, with ‘Supertired’, they have produced an infectious album, filled with honesty that makes you want to hit repeat time and time again.
GLEN BUSHELL