There are loads of bands we cover for the first time on Start-Track where I go, “Wait a second, are we sure we didn’t already feature these folks before?” This happened when we got Wynona Bleach’s new single “Scrab” in the mailbox. I was positive that we had written about them based on the excellent name and grungy-yet-polished vibe. But alas, this is Wynona Bleach’s first time on Start-Track!
So an introduction is in order: Wynona Bleach are a Northern Irish four-piece consisting of Melyssa Shannon, Jonny Woods, James Foy, and Carl Gillmore. They’ve been bouncing around since the early 2010s, although they took on their current moniker in 2018. They’ve headlined the Reading and Leeds festivals and gigged around the world (including SXSW, New Colossus Festival, and a 12-day tour through Russia in the pre-war days). Their music’s been on radio all over, including BBC Radio Ulster, KEXP, and various college stations. Since 2018, they’ve released two albums, an EP, and several singles.
The band’s second album Animal Style dropped this past May, and “Scrab” is the feature track. It gives a good intro to Wynona Bleach’s sound for the uninitated: A blend of shoegaze, alt-rock, and indie pop they call “crunchy bubblegrunge”, which is probably one of the finest genre fusion names I’ve ever heard. “Scrab” is a focused musical attack, and is their first song with blast beats, which further fuels the intensity of their usual melodic aggression. They define the track as “the most intense scream at the void that is the modern political climate.” You can hear it in Melyssa’s voice as she delivers the jagged lyrics, launching into a discordant pre-chorus wail with fellow bandmates.
There’s a little bit of the Pumpkins, some Letters to Cleo, Screaming Females, and Illuminati Hotties in “Scrab”, layered thick with distorted guitars and pounding drums that refuse to let up. There’s a reason why Wynona Bleach have delighted both radio and live audiences: Their music brings the electric energy wherever it goes. As the world continues to try to kick folks down, they’ll hit the pavement and fight back with music.
While this is the first time we’re featuring Wynona Bleach, it surely won’t be the last. Take a listen to “Scrab” below.
Written by Will Sisskind
