HOWRAH, yes, it deserves to be written in all caps, because it can be, and because they know how to make a significant impact. This is evident once again with their new, third album “Ends And Means”. The sound is unmistakably HOWRAH, but they’ve definitely grown since their previous album “Bliss” (2021). Their sound is more coherent and fuller, without losing the rough edges. The tracks are longer, more robust, and most are at a higher tempo than before. HOWRAH operates at a consistently high level, and on “Ends And Means”, they land some solid punches, which you gladly accept.
With HOWRAH, it feels like they’ve always been around, just like mobile phones and the internet. This is because they are firmly rooted in the Dutch underground scene with a long lineage. The members come from bands such as Zoppo, Seesaw, The Howl Ensemble, and Space Siren. They bring that DNA with them when they formed HOWRAH in 2016, marking the birth of a tightly-knit, new top band. They have reshaped the music of the past, not only from their own bands but also from influences such as The Cure, Sonic Youth, Blonde Redhead, or Sebadoh, and incorporated it into their own unique, unconventional sound.
The band always works from Katzwijm Studio in Voorhout, which is run by Ineke Duivenvoorde, and where labelmates Neighbours Burning Neighbours and Tramhaus have recently recorded their albums as well. “Ends And Means”, like their previous album, was recorded by Jan Schenk at his own Schenk Studio in Amsterdam.
HOWRAH has become even tighter since their last record due to the stable lineup they now have. “Ends And Means” is the first album they’ve worked on and recorded together as a foursome from start to finish. You could call it their first true band album. A band in top form. Meanwhile, the band’s intentions with their dissonant guitar music, held together with tight bass and drums, remain much the same as on their debut “Self_Serving Strategies” (2018). You still get that ever-intense, emotionally charged singing, which, together with the music, creates a pleasantly melancholic atmosphere. It stems from setbacks, but they are never downcast and always move forward.
Jan Willem Broek, Groningen 2024
