The Virginmarys
The House Beyond The Fires
Masochismo Records
Beats that crack like a whip and vivid, visceral vocals spat from bruised lips. The Virginmarys boys pound out feral rock and roll with a punk edge, untamed urgency and lyrics which are a tinderbox of experiences and emotions. Full of fight for survival and touching honesty which physically aches, ‘The House Beyond The Fires’ is as essential as the oxygen that fuels the flames in the first place. Ally Dickaty (vocals/guitar) and Danny Dolan (drums) slam your senses with song after incendiary song: The ferocious ‘There Ain’t No Future’, exhilarating ‘Tripping New York City’, and brutal ‘Lies, Lies, Lies’. Bang. But at 3am, when the world’s dark and cold and still, there’s a gentler sound in your head. The soft embers of ‘Dance To The City’. Ally’s vox becomes distant. He drops lyrics, ‘The house beyond the fires’ for the final time. Now the only things to fight are tears. Because this album ripples with grief at the passing of Danny’s dad. Despair at unhealing mental illness. ‘White Knuckle Riding’ and ‘Urban Seagull’ are, honestly, heartbreaking. ‘The House Beyond The Fires’ is breathtaking.
Review by Jo Wright