Good day you rambunctious and rebellious lot! Gary Lee is back to deliver to you another taste of Musical Chairs action. This time on the platter we have We Are Harlot, with their début album, handily entitled We Are Harlot, so that way you won't forget! How about we see how it all shakes out?
Since leaving metalcore band Asking Alexandria, Yorkshire's own Danny Worsnop has been concentrating on his new band, which of course is We Are Harlot. The foundations of the band reportedly began in LA where Worsnop met guitarist Jeff George, who had previously worked with Sebastian Bach. From there bonds and friendships were formed with the two deciding to form a band along with inviting Bruno Agra, formally of Revolution Resistance. The three then began to record demos before advertising for a full time bassist and recruiting Brian Weaver.
Worsnop has gone on record to state that the band simply wants to make music that they have fun creating, although considering the U turn in creative direction from his AA days, it seems plausible that Worsnop also wanted to explore other avenues as a vocalist. We Are Harlot certainly delivers on that. Waving goodbye to metalcore, We Are Harlot runs in the direction of high energy, high octane 70's rock, calling back to the days of Aerosmith and even AC/DC. However, on occasion there is a Southern US flavour to the jams and the vocal styling.
Dancing On Nails, kicks off the album with its testostrone fuelled riffs and heavy grooves. It is here that Danny's vocals feel charged with a Southern US rock twang, as he belts out robust and 'in charge' vocals. Lyrically, this song pretty much does what every song from the 70's time frame did; it talks semi-generically about someone in a sexually suggestive way "You've something/Worth exploring/I must be crazy/you got me feeling like I'm dancing on nails." Being the hooking lyrical work of this song, I will give it due credit. While it may not be a groundbreaking approach to rock, it is delivered in a catchy fashion, while the song is groove driven and infectious enough to deliver a certain amount of tantalising energy.
The album rolls through DLT, a song that takes the usual classic rock content and delivers it through some punchy, punk riffs that once again do not mess around in the "high energy" stakes. I admit that this track wasn't one that stood out on the first listen, but may well be a grower. Someday is the first of the obligatory rock ballads that all these bands/albums have to indulge in, although it is becoming so cliche sometimes I would rather that they didn't.
Denial is another single from the album and builds wonderfully on what was offered by Dancing On Nails. This time however, Danny reaches more towards his high end of his vocal range although he does call back on his metalcore scream, which is a refreshing take on the vocal performance for this genre. The big blues riffs are in full effect. The 'makes me wanna dance' groove is back and any sign of solo or extended guitar work is fantastically done. I feel this is the song where the guys really begin to strut their stuff and I can imagine it being a real crowd pleaser live.
Easier to Leave calls back to the Southern US influences, with a country music/country rock sound while One More Night brings back the energy in a non stop affair, stomping drums, ballsy, blues riffs are wild and free in this aggressive AC/DC inspired track that calls for the party to never end. I expect this to be another crowd/party pleaser. Never Turn Back takes that same energy and gives it the punk treatment again with punchy riffs, relentless drumming and a gritty vocal style, that occasionally breaks into a growl.
The final single release from the album The One feels like a fusion of 70's rock and 70's disco. There is a very definite funk/disco influence on the sound of this track, while lyrically it calls on the work of 70's rock. Danny's vocals here bring to mind that Aerosmith comparison. While this single offers plenty to its listeners and the disco type sound is interesting, I feel like it is missing the groove and stomp of the previous two singles.
Love For The Night brings back the Southern swagger and heralds the closing of the album. Flying Too Close To The Sun is a surprising track, with perhaps the rawest sound on the album and the screamiest (that's a word now) vocals, all played out with an AC/DC type vibe. I must say I really appreciate these moments, not just the screaming, but the times when the band has the guts to take the old influences and sounds into new places. Sadly, it is exactly the opposite reason that I roll my eyes at I Tried. A rock ballad, to end a classic rock album, how quaint!
Overall, this is an exciting offering from We Are Harlot. There is a nice mix of sounds and influences to keep you listening and as I mentioned, they don't seem afraid to take the genre to interesting places. However, I do wonder about the shelf life of both the album and the band. There have been plenty of classic rock styled bands that have come along with a great start and stagnated a little, or simply got lost in the shuffle of releases. Worth checking out though and it'll be interesting to see how these guys build on this successful first release.
Article by: Gary Lee (@thewheelbear)
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