Rocker (feedbot)
Platinum Member
PENGSHUi have never been a band to do things by halves. London‑born and bred, they started out tearing through pirate radio sets and basement shows, blending the aggression of punk and metal with the bounce of dubstep and electronic chaos. Their debut, ‘Pengshui’, leaned heavily on electronics, while ‘Destroy Yourself’ went all-in on heavy riffs. ‘GUTS’ is where those worlds finally collide. It’s loud (very loud), restless and exhilarating, but with more fluidity than anything they’ve done before. From the opening pulse to the last dark industrial stomp, it sounds like a band who know exactly who they are, what they want to say, and how to make it feel like one connected journey – rather than a scattering of tracks. In some ways, it’s a natural progression, but it also feels like a fresh start: the exact moment PENGSHUi truly find their sound.
‘Take Me Away’ opens the album with a dubsteppy pulse that reiterates the fact that electronics have never been an afterthought. ‘Psycho Eyes’, the first single, is raw and restless, full of Prodigy-esque energy; heavy music and electronic chaos sitting together perfectly. The interludes, V, VI, VII and VIII, act as little checkpoints, bursts of rap and rhythm that nod to the four interludes from their debut, giving the listener a chance to breathe between the storms. ‘Let’s Go’, the most recent single, is urgent and face-melting, a track built for the pit while tackling class inequality and not waiting for life to pass you by. ‘Tesseract’, featuring Bobby Wolfgang, is a flawless collaboration, fusing electronics and heavy guitars seamlessly. Meanwhile ‘Wake Up Call’, featuring Fredua of Bad Rabbits, adds a groove that contrasts with the intensity without ever losing the album’s cohesion.
The rest of ‘GUTS’ keeps that balance of intensity and craft. ‘No Resolve’ and ‘Four Walls’ explore mental struggle and entrapment. The music is tense and claustrophobic, without feeling overwrought. ‘Battered Mind’ closes the record in industrial, dubsteppy style, dark and hypnotic, leaving a lingering sense of weight. The other tracks fill the spaces in between, giving the album momentum and flow. More than just a collection of singles, the record is cohesive, with each track feeling like part of a bigger story. PENGSHUi have clearly aimed to capture every side of themselves here, and they’ve done it with precision and confidence. They have always been a difficult band to categorise – a bit too heavy for the dance crowd and a bit too electronic for the metalheads. ‘GUTS’, however, is the kind of album where both groups can meet in the middle, united by a raw energy and a refusal to sit still.
‘GUTS’ is a record that was clearly made to be experienced live. The band will be touring the UK this November with dates in Southampton, Bristol, Nottingham, Birmingham, Leeds and London. Bring ALL your energy (and perhaps a crash helmet), because this is the kind of music that translates straight from the speakers to the pit. For anyone who likes their music messy, fast and unpredictable, ‘GUTS’ delivers. It’s chaotic and precise, heavy and clever, but above all, cohesive. It’s PENGSHUi having the time of their lives, making it impossible to not be swept up yourself.
KATHRYN EDWARDS
‘Take Me Away’ opens the album with a dubsteppy pulse that reiterates the fact that electronics have never been an afterthought. ‘Psycho Eyes’, the first single, is raw and restless, full of Prodigy-esque energy; heavy music and electronic chaos sitting together perfectly. The interludes, V, VI, VII and VIII, act as little checkpoints, bursts of rap and rhythm that nod to the four interludes from their debut, giving the listener a chance to breathe between the storms. ‘Let’s Go’, the most recent single, is urgent and face-melting, a track built for the pit while tackling class inequality and not waiting for life to pass you by. ‘Tesseract’, featuring Bobby Wolfgang, is a flawless collaboration, fusing electronics and heavy guitars seamlessly. Meanwhile ‘Wake Up Call’, featuring Fredua of Bad Rabbits, adds a groove that contrasts with the intensity without ever losing the album’s cohesion.
The rest of ‘GUTS’ keeps that balance of intensity and craft. ‘No Resolve’ and ‘Four Walls’ explore mental struggle and entrapment. The music is tense and claustrophobic, without feeling overwrought. ‘Battered Mind’ closes the record in industrial, dubsteppy style, dark and hypnotic, leaving a lingering sense of weight. The other tracks fill the spaces in between, giving the album momentum and flow. More than just a collection of singles, the record is cohesive, with each track feeling like part of a bigger story. PENGSHUi have clearly aimed to capture every side of themselves here, and they’ve done it with precision and confidence. They have always been a difficult band to categorise – a bit too heavy for the dance crowd and a bit too electronic for the metalheads. ‘GUTS’, however, is the kind of album where both groups can meet in the middle, united by a raw energy and a refusal to sit still.
‘GUTS’ is a record that was clearly made to be experienced live. The band will be touring the UK this November with dates in Southampton, Bristol, Nottingham, Birmingham, Leeds and London. Bring ALL your energy (and perhaps a crash helmet), because this is the kind of music that translates straight from the speakers to the pit. For anyone who likes their music messy, fast and unpredictable, ‘GUTS’ delivers. It’s chaotic and precise, heavy and clever, but above all, cohesive. It’s PENGSHUi having the time of their lives, making it impossible to not be swept up yourself.
KATHRYN EDWARDS