New single “Picture of Health” is a fine case in point. Through gutsy sonic thrash and a devil-may-care attitude, the duo put forward a track of incisive introspection that finds vocalist Rachael opening-up mental scars about her own underlying health issues.
“The lyrics here are probably some of my most personal… I write a lot about the health issues I experience; it’s almost as though once I’ve written about it I can detach myself from it. Like the negativity is purged from my system.” She says. “I guess many people can relate heavily to the chorus line: “I am wasting time I know; more so than ever”. We all procrastinate sometimes, even when we know the thing that needs doing is ultimately good for us!”
As brutalist guitars clash with piledriving percussives and esoteric organ maneuverings, the duo create a live-wire like frisson of sounds that build to a cataclysmic apex of searing intensity. Inspired by the simple, melodic and potent bass lines used by Pixies to drive some of their most definitive moments, Pave The Jungle emulate the tactics of their heroes to take their definitively anarchistic arrangements to new levels of stadium-quaking amplification and ambition.
“Picture of Health” follows Pave The Jungle’s earlier 2021 single “All You Know”, the follow up to the band’s debut EP ‘The Hissing‘ of last year which saw them earn praise from titles including Punktastic, NARC and DIY, and more. Following a spate of recent studio sessions, the band are currently preparing a new body of work, expected to appear later this year.
As the nation’s own “Picture of Health” begins to look decidedly peachier, Pave The Jungle are also pleased to announce a full UK tour this Autumn. Taking in 12 dates in total from 5th November – catch the band at the following dates and venues as follows:
PAVE THE JUNGLE – NOVEMBER ‘21 TOUR
5th – The Grayston Unity, Halifax
6th – Base Camp, Middlesbrough
7th – The Salty Dog, Northwich
11th – Three Wise Monkeys, Colchester
12th – The Fiddler, London
13th – Paradiddles Cafe, Worcester
14th – The Dark Horse, Birmingham
18th – Gullivers, Manchester
19th – The Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
20th – Hot Box Live, Chelmsford
25th – Cafe Indiependent, Scunthorpe
26th – Little Buildings, Newcastle
Pave The Jungle are an alternative rock duo from Newcastle. Formed in 2019 by guitarist/singer Rachael Whittle with the addition of drummer and long-term collaborator Scott Jeffery later that year, the band have quickly earned a reputation for swaggering, off-kilter yet decidedly arena-sized compositions.
Recording their debut EP, ‘The Hissing’ at Blank Studios (Pigsx7, Richard Dawson, Du Blonde); the band unleashed the blistering 6-track release in 2020 to widespread acclaim, with the demand for the EP earning itself a physical release via Du Blonde‘s new label Daemon T.V. in 2021.
Following feverishly well-received appearances at headline shows and their opening slot for Texan alt rock heavyweights …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Pave The Jungle are now keenly awaiting their own upcoming UK headline tour where they look to air a clutch of exhilarating new material created with engineer Chris McManus and Tarek Musa (The Big Moon, Calva Louise).
