Loner

Coastal Fire Dept.

Guernsey, a place steeped in contemporary history and home to the most famous cows in the world. Well now, there is one group of eager musicians using the gritty guitar sounds and thunderous rhythms of Grunge to put the scare up their bovine residents. Since 2019 Coastal Fire Dept. have had a string of critical success as they have walked the line between Alt Rock & 90’s Grunge. With new release ‘Loner’ the band have doubled down on their Grungey intent and created something that will punch a hole into your ear drums.

With a sound akin to Seether meets Stained, while being stalked by the Pixies ‘Loner’ is a track that utilises all aspects of what made Grunge so popular and adds it’s own contemporary varnish to it all. Lulling you in with a gentle picked guitar, paired with a steady surgical drum beat, provided by Kelli Scott (Failure), the song tricks you into thinking that your in for a more Pop style of Grunge, think ‘Come as you are’. This is incorrect. As the chorus kicks in the whole song is thrust forwards and bares it’s teeth at you with a charming snarl. This bait and switch works brilliantly with the bands musical direction and really highlights there move into a more punchy and gritty form of Grunge.

This new leaning is then commented when you observe the lyrical content of the song. With Grunge comes the idea of quite, outside the norm, and socially awkward kind of crowd. Well this song is an anthem for all of those people. Being a member of this society I really connected with the song when it described feeling socially out of your depth in certain situations. I also got fired up when the chorus kicked in declaring, unashamedly, ‘….I’m a loner…..I’m fine in my own skin….” This declaration, delivered with a true Grunge attitude made me think, ‘too right’, and really spoke to the heart of what formed Grunge in the first place.

Overall, Coastal Fire Dept. have proven themselves to be in touch with what inspires them and prove that they have the talent to forge their own sound while paying tribute to what drives them musically. Though they are an ocean away from its home, there is no question that this ambitious band from Guernsey are well on their way to reaching the perfect example of the ‘Seattle Sound’.

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