What does tummyache sound like?

Grungy sludgy indie rock that has one foot in 1994 and one in 2024.

The review of ‘Egosystem’ by tummyache

Whilst firmly the brainchild of Soren Bryce, between the debut EP ‘Humpday’, the debut album ‘SOAK’ and the latest follow-up ‘Egosystem’, tummyache has morphed into a firm trio. The permanent additions of Linus on bass and Bianka on additional guitars have seen tummyache’s sound on ‘Egosystem’ twist into a more varied sound. This album relishes in the extremes. Most songs veer from depressed and vacuumed-out acoustic moments to barrages of grungy walls of sound with glee. It’s the audio storytelling of the album’s narrative about taking a stand.

Opening track ‘Holier Than Thou’ wears this dynamic proudly like a scar. Each time the full electric band slams in, it is anthemic and cathartic as drums and guitars explode in unison. The nearly six-minute opener is a huge shift from the twisted and jaded power chords of tummyache’s previous releases. It also frames the narrative of “us” versus the 1%. This album squarely tackles inequality in modern-day life and the mental gymnastics that brings with every song. The beauty is that it’s tackled from different perspectives. From being ‘belly up’ for the boys club here, we shift to the visceral punk whiplash of ‘Safe Word’. Here, Soren is tired of the daily rat race as media channels spin out of control around angry guitars and jagged vocals.

tummyache has a knack for bringing me back to the mid-90s hedonism of gritty chords and odd riffs rooted in minor keys. ‘Carbon Copy’ declared “the game is rigged” over clever guitar noodles, calls back to psyche-rock and big drums. It is here where the rustic and crunchy production comes into its own. There is something homemade about it and that is because there isn’t much volume change between the subtle parts and the full band sections. Take the excellent ‘Penicillin’ as an example. The verses keep a similar volume to the choruses because the bass sears through your ears. You can still feel the weight and energy of the electric guitars when they rush in but it’s more of a stereo panning wider sound than just cranking up the volume.

‘Sore Spot’ is a riot. It is the kind of song Skunk Anansie kept hidden on their albums in their darker moments. The bluesy, disconnected and dreamy verses skip to their own rhythm before the trashing and harrowing choruses power strum and cymbal smash their way into your memory. Its stabbing use of every instrument is like the song is stalking you, and that’s exactly how tummyache describes the thought of yesterday in the lyrics. The homebrew elements of the album come into full focus with the gorgeous ‘Las Vegas’. The first acoustic track of the project hits the bullseye with its lo-fi recording. Wind, birds, outside noise and Soren’s disenfranchised soft voice lilting in the loneliness of adult living. It is devastatingly disarming because of how understated the song is – especially when it’s surrounded by so much noise elsewhere on the record.

This album sees tummyache try new things and ‘Aiding & Abetting’ is one of those more bombastic tracks. Its opening third is dominated by using electric guitar noise and white noise as percussive punctuation. The song is like a pinwheel before morphing into a groovy bass-driven rock track and then a power anthem. Whilst the lyrics comment on the tokenism of being angry at the TV rather than doing anything about it, the song is all about building up momentum like a crowd turning on the establishment. The song transitions without stopping into the explosive alt-punk cry for action that is ‘What You Wanna See’. Soren calls out burying our heads in the sand with driving guitars, rolling drums and an intoxicating riff that energizes the listener into action. These two tracks work well on their own but are mighty played together.

The circling madness of the verses in ‘Pudding’ is pointed directly at the political system. The musical storytelling in the quickfire do-si-do of notes escalates until tummyache breaks out into a strident run both lyrically and musically. The track’s second half is a rallying cry to break free and not let the establishment and social anxiety break you. Defiance and resilience reign supreme even if the song sounds like it is unravelling in front of you. That juxtaposition runs deep across the album. There’s a lot of shit in the world and we have to make do with what we’ve got. That’s where tummyache ends up by the album’s end. ‘Landmine’ wearily ponders “I just dealt with the hand I was dealt with in the end though it wasn’t my plan”. It is an interesting point to remember. A lot of this album deals with how unfair life can be, but we can still be humble and maybe even grateful with the cards we are dealt with in life too. We can still aim for better cards for everyone though…

Jagged, raucous, angry and a bit knackered (in a great way) with everyday life – there is a lot to love on ‘Egosystem’. I’ll admit it took a few listens to appreciate the production shift from clean grunge to something more old-school punk. Now I think the chaotic and caustic razorblade guitars and tape-chewing effects enhance the anarchist edge of the album. I’m delighted that the often difficult second album has only widened the scope of rock tummyache delivers. I hope this resonates with everyone in a year of upheaval and change. It has lit a firecracker under me.

Recommended track: Pudding

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