Review: Cursed Arrows' Telepathic High Five

When I first saw Cursed Arrows in the summer of 2009, I was blown away by their thunderous drums and loud guitar. Not only does their music inspire an overwhelming guttural reaction, but they tore through a cover of Nirvana’s “Tourettes” and did it more than just justice. Their garage, post-punk sound may not fit in with their techno-synth contemporaries in the Ontario independent music realm, but I always thought there was something to say about sounding different.

The band consists of two members, Ryan and Jackie Stanley. They’re set up like a White Stripes outfit, but they actually embrace that they’re married. Ryan was in the well-loved Brantford, ON band, The Vermicious Knid, before recording a number of solo albums. “Our telepathic connection and combined artistic frustrations lead us to start writing loud songs in our basement apartment, armed simply with a tiny amp and an awful drum kit,” Jackie outlines on the band’s blog.

Ryan’s guitar playing is intricate and embraces the effects board (the crunchier and often weirder, the better), while Jackie’s drumming is precise and dainty, matched with a violence fit for any heroine. Sharing vocals and harmonies, the pair at times, often reminds me of a heavier and to-the- point, Sonic Youth, but can get as melodic as the Pixies and as soulful as Nirvana.

Their first album, “Knives Are Falling From The Sky,” mostly garnered attention in south western Ontario. The band acknowledges it as a shot in the dark, but fans quickly embraced it as something more. The duo, now on Noyes Records, recently released their second full-length album, “Telepathic High Five,” which is more identifiable, more melodic, and most importantly – loud.

The two wear their alternative rock influences on their sleeve, and I’m not talking about their impressive tattoo sleeves. The lyrics are often tragically personal and introverted. The first track, “Run Forever,” features challenging lyrics like, “They’ll always tell you what’s right/comes down to will and to might/or you can run forever.”

The album times in at 43 minutes and displays a constant complexity of melodies, raw emotion and is rooted in thunderous rock and roll. The album’s title track is delightfully distorted over peaceful harmonies. Other earth-shakers include, “Gate Crasher,” and “Chop You Up.” Another notable track is the emotionally-charged, “Deep Wound.” But nothing is as intimately potent as, “Oubliette,” the album’s memorable final song.

Please listen to this album, your ears will thank you.

Published by NxEW