Album Review: Totally Unicorn - Sorry

How much do you trust this band? Totally Unicorn have described Sorry as a more direct, honest album, but its tone and delivery are so desperate it sounds more like an avalanche of sarcasm. For sure, there are fewer basement party riffs and a lot more gloom and (mock?) contrition, the opening title track being a prime example. Likewise, Drew Gardner’s bellowing cries of, “I’ll get over it,” in the confessional rambling of Heavy Breathing, won’t convince anyone he will.

Musically, A Song For The Dead Shits is an encouraging example of how Totally Unicorn are developing, showing they’re not afraid to drop the volume to allow Gardner to expand on his storytelling. But the metalcore-style rhythmical mauling may still be the thing they’re best at, as exemplified in the moshpit mayhem of Grub. If that doesn’t make you want to throw a chair through a window, you’re basically not alive. 'Maturing' might not be the right word for it, but Totally Unicorn appear less hell-bent on ripping out the control console, intent instead on finding new ways to explore 21st century anguish and hopelessness.