Track of the Day: Bison Face – Private Joke Party
Drawing together the sounds of Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon and Alice In Chains, UK-based Bison Face is a rollercoaster of evocative sound. Formed in 2019 by school friends Ernie Hill (frontman) and Alex Bowden (guitars), Bison Face is unique, talented and obscure. Hill and Bowden may be the only two current members, but a revolving door of musicians tend to fill the rhythm section proving the lads’ innovativeness and versatility. While the band were focused primarily on shows before the pandemic, lockdown led to a release of three singles for our enjoyment. Featured in Sinusoidal Music, Thoughts Words Action, and several playlists, the group is more than just a successful live performer. The latest addition to their discography is ‘Private Joke Party’.
Combining pounding drums with hard-hitting guitars, ‘Private Joke Party’ tosses you immediately into a whirlpool of sound. You know those anime scenes where the person is stuck in the centre of a hurricane with their hair blowing all about; that’s what you’ll experience from the first second of this song. Yet, while there is a craziness about the single, the hard-hitting melody seems to follow a structure in its organised chaos.
Reminiscent greatly of Foo Fighters, particularly during the high-paced guitar solos, Bison Face brings the sounds of late-90s/early-2000s to modern-day ears. It’s difficult to describe ‘Private Joke Party’ as the group are so distinctive in a stagnating alternative rock meets grunge world. With vocals similar to Dave Grohl, multi-instrumentalist Ellis smashes his way through the infectious tune but not in a way that turns you off. No, in fact, the incorporation of these gruff tones with the heavy instrumentation adds to the kaleidoscopic soundscape. This is my first introduction to Bison Face and it’s one that slams into my brain, reverberates down my spine and leaves me gasping for breath.
In addition to the single, Bison Face released an official music video for ‘Private Joke Party’. Unfortunately, I was unable to view the video because it uses strobe-like lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
For more from Bison Face check out their official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
