– Written by Cameron Blackwood –
After Fontaines D.C released their 4th studio album Romance, they saw success that they have never seen before. They were one of, if not the, only band who in recent years has broken underground alternative rock music into the mainstream. With their hit singles Favourite and Starburster, it propelled the Dublin group to a place they have never been before in their musical career. After the Fontaines strong handed a place for alternative rock music in the mainstream, there’s a band from Newquay, England coming in with their guns blazing, ready to be the next phenomenon. That band is the eclectic Wunderhorse.
When I heard Wunderhorse’s first record Cub, I was floored. The entire album from front to back plays through incredibly well and offers a transcendent listening experience every time you hear it. Cub has the perfect blend of raw indie music with a touch of shoegaze that is reminiscent of Catherine Wheel or R.E.M. in the 1990’s.
I’ll never forget the day I was introduced to the standout track on their first album, Teal. As soon as I heard that opening riff, I was paralyzed by the sound and fell to the ground. The wave of nostalgia and emotion that is conveyed in that song is other-wordly. It is pure mental turmoil- you don’t know if you should cry, scream, or smile when listening. It’s one of those songs that makes you look back and see how far you’ve come, cherishing the full range of the memories that made you who you are today.
Because of this, when Wunderhorse released their 2nd album titled Midas, I had high hopes. If Cub struck me to the floor, Midas put me six feet under. The title track Midas opens up with a piercing guitar riff, illustrating the type of experience one will have on the journey throughout this record. From front to back Midas demonstrates how Wunderhorse took a slightly different approach from their music. The album feels more raw and energetic than Cub. This is due to tracks such as Rain, July, and Cathedrals. These songs instead went for a heavier distorted sound than the familiar sound of twangy guitars heard all over their first album.
Although Midas has some heavier tracks, there are a few that standout to me that are more stripped back and delicate.I instantly fell in love with Arizona, which conveys emotions at such an opposite end of the spectrum from the other tracks off the album which still somehow skillfully blends in with the rest.
To me, this switch demonstrates the range that lead singer Jacob Slater has: a combination of Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder and an early Neil Young all mixed into one beast of a frontman. Slater can kick his voice into a punk sound but when needed, remain delicate and high-pitched. Not to mention, it harmonizesperfectly with the grunge-esque tones of the guitars, complimenting each other very well.
If Midas has proven anything, it is that Wunderhorse is bringing a fresh version of 90’s alternative rock back into the mainstream. I’m curious to see where they go from here. Not just in terms of the music, but more-so the traction they will inevitably gain. For UK rock bands, it has always been about “breaking America,” Due to the sound that Wunderhorse has found throughMidas, it seems that they’re closer than any group has been before. They just need that final push over the edge before they become a household name. For Wunderhorse it isn’t a matter of if, but a matter of when.
SOUTHPORT MAGAZINE 
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