Before being asked to write about them, Casual Drag were never on my radar, but that’s all changed after listening to their fantastic single ‘The Master’.
It’s a song dedicated to your past self, as highlighted by the trio’s excellent use of lyricism: “you’re someone I used to need, you’re the master” / “I’m the master of your destiny”. These lyrics create a power dynamic that’s reflective of human nature. You can’t move forward without reflecting on the past, but you also can’t stay stuck there; otherwise, you’ll never move forward.
The fury of the song, reflective of the ugly state of our current world, is complemented by the clattering riffs and punchy drums which make up the track.
The snarling sound of garage-punk is partly one of the reasons why this song has so much endurance to me, alongside the fact that I was able to scream my little heart out along with it (which is what we all need to be able to do lately).
‘The Master’ proves that the tiny trio are beginning to be comparable to legends across the scene, not just in Scotland (think IDLES) but further afield (Wunderhorse, anyone?).
Very rarely have I fallen quicker for a song than in this case, and I think you will too!
Written by Madi Briggs
