Hot Face - '17 Day Migraine
Hot Face release intense new single ’17 Day Migraine’ ahead of their London and Europe tour dates – and it’s not one to miss.
After James Bates, George Cannel, and Sam Catchpole began jamming in a Croydon pub during the pandemic, Hot Face have steadily gained attention for their intense garage-rock sound. Diving into inspirations from punk, psych, and alternative rock, the band have a lot to offer to the alt-music scene; with their ever-growing soundscape, Hot Face is one to watch.
The band’s fresh new release ‘17 Day Migraine’ smothers you instantly with energetic drums and a catchy guitar riff. Its galloping tempo and haunting use of howling backing-vocals allows us to dive straight into the hedonistic luxuries of the track.
Without being over-bearing, it displays an intensity that grips you throughout the whole song (and leaves you going straight back to the start after it’s finished). The lead singer and guitarist of the band James Bates has a sense of quiet fierceness within his voice that carries the crazy, unsettling vibe of the track effortlessly.
Distortion caresses the guitar and vocals without making them indecipherable. This shows the impressive ability that Hot Face hold – the perfect balance between heavy distortion and raw power while still maintaining a polished sound.
Speaking upon the creation of the new single, the band say it’s “Inspired by a story recited on a rainy night in Soho, 17 Day Migraine is a manifestation of anarchic scenes and surreal nihilism, sonically channelling the likes of The 13th Floor Elevators, Wire and CTMF.” This other-worldly idea is one that is bound to come to life during their upcoming electric live performances.
A mid-song guitar solo with rumbling bass notes, head-banging drums, and 60s synths makes for a sweaty, pulse-increasing dance break before we’re thrown back into the madness of the final chorus.
Before you know it, the tempo suddenly drops and the haunting howls of the backing vocals return for the last section of the single, leaving us with a soul-stirring final few seconds.
Hot Face are known for their authentic unrefined sound, exploring experimental production and lyrical depth – and ’17 Day Migraine’ doesn’t miss. For all alternative music fans, it’s crazy, ever-growing intensity is a perfect addition to your playlist.
Words by Cameron Cookson
