The Routine – Don’t Give Me Hope (2023)
Known for the energetic take on complex human emotions bound in a kaleidoscopic sonic wrapper, UK-based The Routine delicately exposes human fragility in a vulnerable, raw, powerful way. If you haven’t heard of The Routine, then where have you been? Since their inception in 2019, Liam Palmer (vocals and rhythm guitar), Ben Taylor (lead guitar), Ben Nunn (bass) and Mark Thomson (drums) bring together their various influences, experiences and insights into a brand of alternative rock.
Inspired by Foo Fighters and Franz Ferdinand, the Cambridge quartet has found themselves garnering a loyal following onstage and online with international coverage. Fierce festival performances and supporting acts like Scouting For Girls and Sarpa Salpa, The Routine intoxicate audiences with their buoyant rock palette. In 2023, the lads launched an onslaught of shows across the UK, as well as receiving international critical acclaim with a nomination in the “Best Indie” category at the 2023 NMG Awards (for the third year in a row, we might add).
When we left The Routine review-wise, it was with their debut single ‘Too Many Times’ in 2021. Since then, the lads have showcased their versatility, innovation and originality with various singles and a well-received EP, Under The Circumstances. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Don’t Give Me Hope’.
Following the single ‘Hairbands On My Wrist’, ‘Don’t Give Me Hope’ Further explores The Routine’s diversity in their sound. ‘Hairbands On My Wrist’ saw an evolution from the indie-rock-influenced ‘Get Off It’ bringing a heavier alternative rock stance to the melody. With ‘Don’t Give Me Hope’, an ethereal element floats through the rock exterior setting The Routine on a different musical route. Expanding into the realm of softer synth-rock tones, the guitars meld eloquently with a harmonic soothing throughout the track. Yet, just as the ambience is gentler than previous material with its haunting wistfulness, hard-hitting ruggedness emerges in pounding drums, slicing guitars and Palmer’s gritty vocals.
Intricate and powerful, The Routine retain a heart-rushing rock design; however, the contemporary rock meets a nostalgic whiff of 90s rock with a brush of familiar but fresh. Moreover, while a slide of alternative rock washes over in its brash feeling, a complexity belies the music clinging to a melancholic clarity within a whirl of emotional intensity. Taken off their upcoming debut album, one feels the pain, conflict, intimacy and grit of a live show in a studio single with ‘Don’t Give Me Hope’.
For more from The Routine, check out their official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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