From the insistent bassline of ‘Corpse Pose’ to the spacious experiments of Leaves Turn Inside You, these five tracks offer a way into Unwound’s catalogue.
The early nineties was a defining time for many highly influential rock bands: Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers, and many more. Some of these bands went on to become huge, others flew under the radar. Unwound are somewhere in between. Emerging from the 1991 Washington DIY scene, their noisy guitars, unpredictable rhythms and moody sound make them the top tier underdogs of post hardcore, quietly building a cult following whilst never quite joining the grunge boom or getting the same recognition as some of their contemporaries.
Reforming in 2022, Unwound have found themselves arriving at the perfect time. Post hardcore has seen a huge resurgence in recent years, with bands like Basement and Fiddlehead introducing the genre to a new generation, and Unwound’s return has brought a renewed interest in one of its most influential, yet often overlooked, bands. After years of quietly building their cult following, they might finally be getting their moment.
Where to begin?
Song 1: Corpse Pose
With its addictive bassline, repetitive guitar riff and whiny vocals, ‘Corpse Pose’ is the perfect gateway into Unwound. This top hit is the band in their most unwinded state, with the bass dragging you along as the distinct guitar riff loops relentlessly in your head. Trosper’s vocals sound almost irritated against it all, making the song feel both catchy and completely unhinged.
Album: Fake Train
Song 2: Dragnalus
With Unwound’s first album, Fake Train, released in 1993, the band began their careers as raw and abrasive as possible. Fake Train captures the band in their earliest post hardcore form, with vocals which feel like they are being torn out of Trosper, rather than just sweetly sung. ‘Dragnalus’ is one of the rawest tracks at the beginning of the reel.
While the drums keep everything moving at a frantic pace, there’s a somewhat more indie feel to the song, with a guitar tone and riff reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Foxy Lady’, topped with Trosper’s strained, almost yelped vocals. It’s a different side of Unwound, but still carries the roughness that makes Fake Train so addictive.
Song 3: MK Ultra
As Unwound moved further into the nineties, their sound began to become darker and more experimental. Unwound’s dark undertones spark a nostalgia for the late nineties, their tracks carrying the kind of eerie atmosphere that could have easily slipped into Silent Hill, one of the gloomiest video games of its time. It’s a sound that feels like part of a very specific kind of liminal nostalgia, one that seems almost impossible to recreate today.
‘MK Ultra’ is the perfect example, with its twangy guitar riff creating the feeling of an intriguing suburban town. Its soft, almost Title Fight-esque introduction draws you in before the heavy guitars and vocals take over.
Song 4: October All Over
By the time Unwound reached Leaves Turn Inside You, their sound had developed massively from the rawness of Fake Train. ‘October All Over’ takes a more ambient, experimental tone. The drums almost sound like trash cans off the street, with an old man by a blazing fire rocking out an insane ensemble on the bins.
The vocals become clearer too, separating Unwound from the stereotype of being purely heavy and loud. The saxophone only adds to its strange, unexpected charm, making it one of the most unpredictable forward-thinking tracks in their discography.
Last song: Demons Sing Love Songs
Lastly, you’re left with ‘Demons Sing Love Songs’, a track that leaves you at Unwound’s most developed point. The ambience has grown massively, with layers of sound creating something far more spacious and immersive than their earlier work. A fitting end to the reel.