I can be the deep, thoughtful brooding kind, and West Yorkshire band Rain in Death Valley hit that spot perfectly with their new release No Reason Why.

The song is in the style of a grand punk rock opera with full on soaring guitars and impassioned vocals; the sound blends perfectly betwixt punky new wave and guitar mosh rock.

In the genre, there can sometimes be danger of serious Muse overblow, but here Rain in Death Valley keep it fresh, tight and most importantly interesting. No quiet bit, quiet bit, build up, build up, crescendo, repeat til fade routine here just a solid and steady burst of energy release, awesome power and a strong sense of balance.

There’s a striking part in the middle of the song (toward the three minute part) which to my ears just relaxes the tune out, and gives the end a fresh burst. I always love the sense of slight disquiet, when perhaps something just lasts a bit longer than you expect and this track gives a masterclass in timing. I guess it’s that Rain in Death Valley vibe; a rare event.

Lead vocalist Gus Turner is also master producer at Gafro Studios, so this tune is crisply produced and comes across as fresh and wholesome as a kitten’s gamble across a lawn. I’ve reviewed plenty of Gus’ production efforts so it’s good to understand a bit more about the type of music he preferences.

Alongside Gus, the band have some names I’m familiar with working with other local bands. Rain in Death Valley are Gus Turner (Vocals), Sami Javed (Guitar), Luke Thomas (Bass), Tom Mccall (Guitar) and Jamie Ball (Drums).

The band tell me that after a quiet 2022 release-wise, they have a heavy schedule of monthly released tracks till next summer. Winter’s not gonna be all bad.

* words by tiggerligger

* images from the band’s socials