Phoxjaw – notverynicecream

Phoxjaw – notverynicecream
Release Date: 26th May 2023
Label: Hassle Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Alternative Rock, Grunge, Indie, Rock, Metal.
FFO: Biffy Clyro, Salem, Enter Shikari, Turnover.
Review By: Ross Bowie

Before getting into the review of this album, some context surrounding its release is important. There were some online rumours about vocalist Daniel Garland that really picked up traction once they were removed from a high-profile festival in the UK, this also led to the postponement of this album. In the months since, the allegations have been redacted, and apology letters have been issued to not only Daniel but the band, with the festival paying the band in damages. With that all settled and the band now ready, they have decided to release the album six months after its original due date. The rest of this review will feature solely on the music and the art the band has created. 

notveryicecream is the follow up to 2020’s Royal Swan, an album that saw a lot of heads turn in the UK music scene and take notice. While maybe not having the most mainstream success, these shores have been producing such a high quality of band in underground circles, and Phoxjaw looked to be next in line to join the club. However, they had that pesky pandemic come along and throw all momentum out the window, and they were left to scramble for scraps while live music was trapped in purgatory. The years of cancelled tours and live streams were thankfully not wasted, as the band are back with an album that is dripping in personality, nihilism and is downright weird. 

If they wanted to, Phoxjaw could write straight down-the-line indie bangers and have people in bucket hats, in the palm of their hands while tanning cans of fruity cider, but the band aren’t content with just one idea. At every opportunity, the band throws caution to the wind and packs every song full of ideas. The band’s use of countermelodies is exceptional, and this is made clear as early on as the opening track. Their vocal layering adds bite and edge, but it can often add a sense of emotion to the chaos that is backing it.  Phoxjaw are incredible at creating tension and will make you feel comfortable by utilising every tool in their arsenal. Apples is dizzying from the off, but the aggression in the guitars paired with the synth line sounds like The Purge is kicking off while the vocals are hypnotising; the whole song feels like a panic attack in the best way.  This isn’t a band just throwing in random noises and being weird for the sake of it, all these moments have been patiently crafted for maximum efficacy. The title track, in the hands of a lesser band, would come and go, but they pack what is essentially a pop song full of detours and stabbing keys before building to a massive riff to send you on your way. 

Phoxjaw do a lot in this album and pulls off almost everything. It has built upon the groundwork they started on Royal Swan, but the one thing they haven’t carried over is their choruses. The main ingredient missing from these twelve tracks is that one moment that will have a full room hanging off your every word. Last time around, they had moments like Half House or Trophies in The Attic that immediately wormed their way into your brain and were so singable. The songs on this album reveal more and more over time and repeated listens, but in today’s age, it’s a gamble that the audience will give an album multiple tries when there is so much music readily available at their fingertips. The saddest song ever builds the track’s tension through its vocal melody, but other than the “There’s a man in a coat, standing behind you” refrain, there isn’t much to cling on to on your first go around the track list. The sort of bills that Phoxjaw appear on may not really care about how singable their songs are, but it’s difficult not to hold the band to the standard they had previously set themselves.

noteveryicecream is a fun but tense ride, think of it as a Ghost Train of an album, just when you think you have it figured out something else will jump out and command your attention. The tension on the album is a delight to work through and the songs really reward you, once you’ve spent time getting to grips with them. There are a lot of factors surrounding the band that might make their rise a tricky one but on a purely musical level, Phoxjaw are a band that continue to excite me.

(4 / 5)