Geese’s fourth studio album, Getting Killed, released on 26 September, perfectly encapsulates the band’s willingness to constantly push the boundaries of their comfort zone. This is an album that is rooted in opposition. It exemplifies Geese’s signature swagger and frantic charm, whilst tapping into a more vulnerable emotional core.
The band could’ve easily opted to build on the success of frontman Cameron Winter’s 2024 solo album Heavy Metal, tamping down the more frenetic elements of their previous releases to focus on more stripped-back songwriting. Getting Killed, however, does not shy away from eccentricity. The album is full of twists and turns, lulling the listener into a daze with soft refrains, only to be awoken by a melee of calamitous guitars and drums. This is demonstrated in the opening track ‘Trinidad,’ which flits between almost listless vocals and a metal-like scream paired with frenzied instrumentals on the repeated line, “THERE’S A BOMB IN MY CAR.”
Tracks like ‘Half Real’ bring the album’s emotional core to the fore, drawing on a sense of heartbreak and uncertainty that is typical of Winter’s solo work. Others, like ‘Islands of Men,’ are much groovier and tracks like ‘Cobra’ are airy with twinkly guitar, balancing out the intense maximalism. It is this broad range of tones that makes this album such a satisfying listen. The band seems to embrace a sense of imperfection, occasionally allowing heavily layered instrumentals to overpower the vocal lines. The result is both uncontrolled and perfectly formed at the same time.
Getting Killed does fall short of delivering a stand-out hit to match tracks like ‘Cowboy Nudes’ off their 2023 album 3D Country. ‘Taxes’ perhaps comes closest to this, pairing catchy guitar riffs and expansive vocals with the defiant statement “If you want me to pay my taxes / You’d better come over with a crucifix / You’re gonna have to nail me down.” Despite this, the album is a much more cohesive entity; a testament to a band that seems to be developing a sense of complete confidence and security, despite their evolving sound.
Getting Killed delivers great promise that the band — instead of folding under the pressure of a newly expanding fan-base — will continue to push their music to new levels. Geese perfectly balance a sense of uncontrolled frenzy with thoughtful songwriting, bringing a rare moment of hope for a new sound in rock and roll.
Illustration by Wrenn Li (@a_happyfly)