The Pill - Hollywood Smile

2024-04-02 07:00:51

Four veterans of the Frankfurt music scene, formerly with Coach and Monochords, among others, got together a few years ago to give it another go as a band. The search for a voice was unsuccessful for a long time until a kind of musician dating app found singer Sam – both sides had given the tag #blackflag. As The Pill put them with you „Hollywood Smile“ a first album that – unsurprisingly – combines hardcore and punk.

“You think that I’m a girl? / But let me tell you, I am a god” – the final “Complex” starts with this self-confident line and immediately goes through the roof. The scene police get the middle finger as the song immediately picks up speed. Angry hardcore punk with West Coast charm and an extremely strong, dominant voice – it’s over in under a minute and a half, but that’s enough. The title song “Hollywood Smile” gives in to the ponderousness, literally rears up and allows manic guitars to take hold. Coupled with Sam’s engaging narrative style, everything here is vanity.

“Somewhere” is a rare outburst that delves into some post-hardcore and alternative rock. Early Dinosaur Jr., some Hüsker Dü and even Fugazi are included in this outlier, and all of this suits the quintet wonderfully. More melody, powerful guitar playing and an oppressive rhythm section take no prisoners. The video release “Salaryman” falls between two stools, serving rough hardcore at times, but also has a heart for the ‘rock’ in ‘punk rock’ – an unexpectedly complex piece of music that causes welcome pain.

Ten songs in 20 minutes rattle through in typical hardcore style, with further runs following almost automatically. Of course you can hear the musical inspiration for The Pill, but a wonderfully unique and idiosyncratic thing emerged (and is emerging) here that there should and should be no getting around. Experienced scene musicians and an exciting singer have clearly searched for and found each other. Between angry wrecking balls, punky neck blows and smaller rocky excursions, “Hollywood Smile” delivers one steam hammer after the next. Continuation expressly requested.

Rating: 8/10

Available from: April 5, 2024
Available via: Sounds of Subterrania / Krasser Stoff

Bandcamp: thepill.bandcamp.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/__thepill__