Buzhold are a Tallinn, Estonia-based alternative rock band who have just come to my attention through the release of their debut album. Bringing together grunge with shoegaze, it’s called What It Meant?

By Graeme Smith

I have to admit, I can probably count the number of Estonian acts I know on one hand and I probably wouldn’t even need all my fingers to do it. As such I was excited to dive into the scene through Buzhold, and see how they do it when it comes to classic forms of rock.

The answer does not disappoint. Buzhold’s debut album is a feast for the ears, and pushes the rock genre forward with their distinct sound, and that’s right from the off with racy, raw and varied opener Why So Gloomy? It sets up early highlight Decode nicely. Opening stripped-back and brooding, it suddenly fires into life with some noisy riffs and visceral lyrics.

Shoe Case is another highlight with a wonderfully laidback and simmering style that gradually develops into a lush, feedback-filled odyssey.

The album’s middle section is made up of the slow and simmering psych of Gon-Ed, the bass-heavy hard rock of Morlort and the light and airy vignette Inhibition. We then reach another highlight in the form of Woven. Its looping melody is an instant earworm as we become awash and adrift in its blistering shoegaze.

Things are then rounded off by the severe Can You Share? and Don’t Mind. The latter proves a highlight as a ponderous finale that leaves it all out there with clashing drums, echoing riffs, subtly emotional vocals, and expert use of rise and fall.

Buzhold are Edvin on guitar and vocals, Christofer on guitar, Art on bass and Kristofer on drums. What It Meant? is out now via Noon Records. You can grab a CD or cassette of it via the band’s Bandcamp page and stream it below.