Tigercub are a modern rock band from the UK and this is their third album.
I don’t often reach for rock, but when I do I typically want short songs, big hooks, and darker moods. Enter The Perfume of Decay. Across 41 minutes Tigercub tick all of these boxes and more, delivering exactly what I want from a contemporary rock band that has plenty of 90s influences thrown into their sound.
Tigercub play rock music that’s darkly emotive. The songs are catchy and mostly short, yet imbued with a well-formed personality that belies their relatively brief durations. There is a Gothic feel to much of the material that I like, as it allows for the creation of darker moods and atmospheres, but without going too far down that route. A shoegaze influence can be felt in places, and there’s an experimental edge to some of the music, especially in some of the sonic ideas and enriching noises that make appearances here and there.
With cinematic aesthetics and melancholic depths, The Perfume of Decay is an easy album to enjoy. The quality of the songwriting is such that there’s more than enough here to grab you, but importantly there’s even more to keep you returning. Of the latter elements, Tigercub are adept at peppering a range of subtle details and nuanced sounds into their music, while simultaneously producing songs that seem destined for huge audiences.
I haven’t even mentioned the vocalist yet, who gives a sterling performance throughout the album. His voice is versatile and charismatic, and his singing just bleeds feeling and emotion. It’s a testament to the rest of the music that it isn’t overshadowed by these vocals, but instead the music and vocals work together to become greater than the sum of their parts.
The Perfume of Decay is an album that has arrived fully formed and masterfully wrought. Tigercub have impressed.
Essential listening for any fan of rock music.
Wonderbox Metal 