Bella Clava – “Holy Crow”
Self-Released
-out now
4 / 5
Paralyzing lyrics, heavy, foot-stomping guitar and blasting melodies make this album one of those rare gems that you can’t wait to tell your friends about. Based in Toronto, the classic-rock inspired quartet pounds out high-wire riffs like they’d gone out of style, and here on their debut LP, there’s more than enough slash-and-burn going on to make you nauseous from rocking out. It’s difficult for us to pick out only a handful of tracks when the album on the whole is incredibly strong, but suffice it to say that if the opener “Ding Dong Ditch” somehow doesn’t get you up and started, then you should check your pulse. While the performances here are excellent (especially Caitlin Dacey’s driving vocals) the real champion here is the top-notch songcraft, which is dynamic, exploring, and goes into every space it that it should. We regret not catching up on this one for you guys in ‘aught-eleven, but here it is: download it, enjoy it, bathe in its sheer, heavy glory. Bella Clava is one band you’ll want to keep track of in the coming years. Highly recommended.
Holy crow! They’ve got their debut for free???