A Fresh Single From toMMaSPork Doesn't Hold Back
- BuzzSlayers
- 4 minutes ago
- 5 min read
A fresh single drop from toMMaSPork delivers plenty of classic rock flow, but with blues-infused and this great guitar tone that feels slightly dirty, a little gritty, but performed with loads of soul, along with the vocals delivering more of the same.
One of my favorite aspects about "disGrace" is that you can tell it comes from a place of honesty. This is a track about a certain someone that's just super annoying, always has the same struggles to throw your direction, and you're just tired of their nonsense.
It's a song about reaching your limit with that person and having had enough of them altogether.
The way the lyrics are articulated is brilliant. They are super straightforward and directed straight towards that recipient. The person that's on the other end of this song is hearing it all. All of those inner thoughts coming out with no walls built around them.
I feel like it was cathartic for them to write and release this song. It was almost cathartic to listen to it.
This is because we all have those people in our lives. The people who were just sick of it and it's because they're always driving you crazy with the same stuff over and over.
So, I really liked how the whole thing was portrayed lyrically. Just right in your face, no holding back, and with the right level of aggression.
Now don't get me wrong, none of this is super over the top. Just very honest.
This track has a great groove to it. It sort of jams out, again delivers a soulful, blues rock approach, and is heavily influenced by all kinds of classic rock, which is something you can clearly hear in every note played.
The progressions are awesome, giving you some surprises around the song's corners that you just didn't expect to hear, and the guitar work is all around driving yet somehow smooth at the same time.
It's got a bit of that 60s and 70s blues rock guitar work, and the drumming is the driving force behind that.
The drummer is great on this single, not just because he brings out those deep-rooted grooves, but more because he brings a liveliness to the track.
He doesn't just sit in the pocket; he brings a great feel that lets the song really flow in a particular way.
I like when the song gets slightly grungy. This happens mostly during the choruses. The riffs are a little different throughout the song, but when it gets to the choruses, you hear full chords being played in an ascending progression and then back down again, descending towards the end of that chorus and back into the verse.
When the guitars are playing the chords, it feels a little heavier. It has a little bit of a harder hitting a static to it.
I certainly dig how you can hear that slew of influences coming into play.
It's not just classic rock but other eras in style of the genre coming together to create something that breeds something familiar but still kind of raw in terms of its energy.
Something else I really loved about the song was the way it ends. At the end of the track, it gives you these guitar parts that are kind of like solos, but they're double-tracked, or so it seems, and really playing these additional hooks.
The hooks are sort of colorful and bring a bit of brightness to the song, and that, in combination with some of the edginess and tone, really works amazingly.
You can tell there was attention paid to the arrangement and progression of this track, but it's got that heavy-handed character behind it as well. I think it's the character that you end up really grabbing on to because it's so relatable.
The premise of the track and sentiment behind the lyrics are so insanely understandable that it actually feels good to listen to the song.
You feel satisfied listening to those lyrics, especially if you've had experience with people that drive you up a wall.
It says all the things you want to say.
This was a killer single that really portrayed those great elements of rock and blues: honesty, bouncing the aggressive lyrical approach with Melody, and really boasted tons of personality.
Upon listening to it I wanted to chat with the band about the song itself to find out exactly where it actually came from.
So, while you listen to this track, have a read-through of our interview with toMMaSPork, and don't forget where you heard it first.
Welcome guys! Let's jump right into "disGrace" as it certainly had a blues rock undertone and some great time signatures!
Where did this song come from exactly?
The name Disgrace come from another song Mike was writing before called Grace. Mike came up with the guitar riff off the cuff one day. Stu wrote the lyrics and moulded it into a song.
Did you guys write this together, or did one of you come to the other with the idea?
Mike (London) sent Stu (Exeter) a bunch of riffs and song ideas over the internet. They worked remotely on arranging the ideas into songs, piecemeal fashion. Disgrace came out of this pot, and after several attempts, the song was recorded at a friend’s studio in Devon.
Can you give us some of your top musical influences?
Stu: Rush, Floyd, Queen, Dire Straits, 90s Indie stuff
Mike: Blues greats, Led Zep, Tinariwen, Jazz greats.
Are you performing this song live at all?
No plans to as we live too far apart, but maybe one day when we have released a substantial body of work?
Is this track the lead up to something bigger upcoming?
3 more songs are being finalised and they have a wide range of genres including funk, world music, psychedelia. We are constantly developing new ideas and will be trickling songs out at our leisure as we don’t want to overwhelm our fans with the sheer majesty of our work.
Did you record this at a big studio, or a home DAW setup?
Remote recording at home allows for easy collaboration on demos though it takes a long time unless everyone is plugged in, primed and ready to go 24/7. Once the structure was finalized on the demo we went to Brazen Studios near Exeter (run by the amazing Ian Poole with whom Stu was in wedding band “Quite Brazen” for 4 years. Dave Penna (another of Stu’s ex-bandmates) provided session drums on 4 of our songs. Ian did a great job mixing and mastering the track with only a few tweaks needed to capture its spirit.
How did it all begin for you guys as a band?
Long story! In 1990 when Stu (Physics) and Mike (Politics) were at Exeter University they played in “5 Men and a Dog Called Funk” and did loads of gigs in and around the city, covers and originals – think blues/funk with a bit of jazz and lots of energy. The singer/harmonica/bongo player, Nick Baker, went on to present The Really Wild Show amongst other nature TV shows. We recently discovered a live recording of “5 Men…..”and it sounds like it’s played at double speed though we were on nothing stronger than coca cola, cheap beer and youthful energy. We split up when everyone graduated and only got back in touch with each other 2 years ago (30+ years later!)
What would you say people can expect from this track?
Snappy, catchy, upbeat, energetic funky blues/rock with snarled lyrics. A song that you can’t sit still to.
Is there any advice you'd give to other bands or artists out there?
Play, write, record, repeat. Just keep doing it. And if it isn’t enjoyable, try something different eg a new drummer, different styles of music or a hobby like knitting. Just follow what you are drawn to.
Before we go, what would you like to express or say to fans and listeners?
We welcome you to our world of un-tutored, unguided music and we will be thrilling you with whatever style of songs pleases us. You will like it.
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