Civil Villains Exhibit a Multi-Faceted Side Through ‘A Sleeper, Underneath’

Left to Right: Toby Warren, James King & Mark Hudson (Photo Courtesy of the Band)

Based in the British city of Oxford, Civil Villains are the type of band who have a knack for branching off of a sonic foundation in numerous ways. Through an alt-rock style, the trio of vocalist and guitarist James King, bassist Mark Hudson, and drummer and percussionist Toby Warren have an array of material that can be aggressive while also tending to be melodic. They’re also able to intertwine a flurry of elements, including post-hardcore and progressive math rock. This is all evident in their sophomore full-length *A Sleeper, Underneath* that came out back on May 8 via their own label at Thundersnuff Records. While having an abundance of riffs and rhythms, the album takes on a literary influence as well.

This is from *Walden*, a book from the Concord, Massachusetts native and naturalist, essayist, poet, philosopher, and transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau that originally came out in 1854. In a modern sense, it details how things can often be afflicted in one way or another by both evolution and progress.

“I’ve always found that image really powerful,” King says via a press release. “The idea that society pushes forward so quickly that people, and the natural world, often get crushed in the process. But I liked imagining something still managing to grow through all of that pressure — rising up, blooming, refusing to stay buried.”

“Never Felt Better” starts things off with a stripped-down intro that has King relaying introspection while exuding chords via his six-string. Then it shifts into a flurry of amplification accented by a catchy chorus. Resonating an energy that instantly gravitates towards the senses, “Second Guess” is a prime example of the band’s math rock leanings. Similar to the opening track, “Canvas Stretcher” also has that melodic beginning, but then both Hudson’s bass and Warren’s drums have an increased presence. Other highlights off of A Sleeper, Underneath include “Horehound,” “Punching Down,” and “Knives of Ambition,” but it’s recommended that whoever gives the record a listen initially does so from start to finish to form their own opinions.

To do exactly that, it’s relatively simple. Just press play on the link below, dive right in, and enjoy an interesting brand of rock music.

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