The Beat Surrender

Into just their second year as the tireless, hard touring four piece they’ve become, Guile have been constantly covering the country, transporting souls every night with their brooding, beast of a live show. I’ve had the pleasure and been in awe of this spectacle on a few occasions and these four devils dressed in black will leave you trance-like and enraptured in equal measures.

Hailing from the dark recesses of Staffordshire, their debut, eponymous EP was highly regarded by anyone in earshot and it’s only a matter of time before they are signed. Their relationship with Gavin Monaghan at his Magic Garden Studio has been fruitful to say the least and produced an already impressive early catalogue.

They crawl like the Velvets, hypnotize with Doors like drama and project an aural assault of psychedelic proportions that is all their own. ‘Love Around Here’ is a stomping, country tinged groove that transcends into a soundtrack for the apocalypse. Neil Sawyer’s hushed narration builds with Brother John’s immense wall of piercing guitar into a swirling mass of intensity that raises every hair on the whole body. .

“I should pray, maybe I should curse / Get so high, to exit the universe” and it rises again, capturing raw emotion and a feeling of alienation that strikes an unease and fear into the listener. Guile have a genuine soul to their sound that has to be felt rather than described.

Second track ‘The Horizon’ is a haunting, shamanic ascent into the other side. Mind bending slides of guitar combine with an immortal message that works its way deep into the consciousness. The whole thing breaks down into a twisted and hollow finale. It’s all quite breathtaking and will strike straight to the heart of your darkness.

Expect to be hearing more of Guile very soon; they cannot lurk in the shadows for much longer, although that’s probably where they’d prefer to be.