Echoviolet – City of Impunity (2020)
Merge the energy of Arctic Monkeys with the intimacy of Pink Floyd and you should have Echoviolet. Initially formed by James Whiteley (vocals and guitar) and Rowan Minnis (guitar) after a “fun jam” in 2019, Echoviolet is breeding their own brand of punk meets indie-rock. Despite being a relatively new band with only three tracks to their name, the UK-based quartet is gaining global recognition featured in Eat This Metal, The Verge Music News and various online radio stations. The latest addition to their growing repertoire is the single ‘City of Impunity’.
Following the ambient single ‘Why Can’t I?’, the group abandon the post-punk style for punk rock brashness and ferocity. With powerful guitars, pounding drums and gruff vocals, ‘City of Impunity’ is a merging of The Clash, The Undertones and Nirvana. Adopting a gothic stance, Echoviolet showcases their deeper, darker side in this guitar-driven single. Not necessarily a controversial track, the track touches on angst, aggression and despair as the foursome invite you to “their city”.
What I find truly enticing about ‘City of Impunity’ is how the execution evokes feelings of grittiness and grime. Whiteley’s Ian Curtis-esque spoken word oozes malevolence touching one’s very soul and making you shake with fear. Filled with doom and gloom, but still a rather infectious and enchanting single, ‘City of Impunity’ is a superb sonic representation of dystopian society. I swear, if George Orwell were to adapt 1984 into a musical, this would be the ideal theme song!
For more from Echoviolet check out their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
