Words by Matthew Doyle. @mmmmdoyle
Toronto band Greys’ single ‘No Star’, from their album Outer Heaven, released this week, is a politically charged timebomb of a track. The song was written about the racist reaction to the Paris attacks in 2015 and vocalist/guitarist Shehzaad Jiwani’s lyrics encapsulate the feeling of separation that Paris felt amid fear of another terrorist attack, as well as the anxiety the Muslim community had of a racially charged backlash against them.
‘No Star’ is electrifying from the start, hooking you with thumping, pounding drums and thrashing riffs, only to kick it up even more when the starless chorus crashes in. Although not a track to make you immediately think about politics or the state of the world, the raw energy that bursts out of ‘No Star’ – bringing to mind early Rage Against The Machine and more recently the band formerly known as Viet Cong – bubbles forth a feeling of angry release that is cathartic, something that might be needed these days.
Outer Heaven is out on 22 April on Carpark Records