REVIEW: Pleaser - Begging Guitars

Danish punk band Pleaser have been experimenting since their first release back in 2021, their unique, chaotic and adrenaline-fuelled sound hard to pin down to any one specific genre. They combine elements of intensity and youthfulness, with frenzied rage and bold emotions they want us to bear witness to. With their latest album Begging Guitars, one thing is made certain – they are unequivocally punk. The album is an energetic, high-speed chase, capturing the true disorder and destruction of the human experience.

Lead single and title track 'Begging Guitars' leads us directly into the mayhem, a fast and punchy introductory tune that lets us know exactly what we're in for. It barely lets up, only slowing the tempo down for the start of a guitar-heavy instrumental halfway through. Almost immediately, the fast, razor-edge tunes pick back up - a recurring theme. The band say this is a song about "letting go and not expecting or indulging in perfection from oneself or others", and that's certainly evident. It's messy and chaotic, but in a charming style that follows them in each song to follow.

'Here for the Sins' chases up the strong opener with the dual vocals of Suo Fei and Annie Marie Nyvold, the track frequently switching between the shouty, punky vocals the band are known for, and melodic, memorable passages over their heavy riffs. Their second single release and third song on the album, 'Ride', captures the essence of the record in a bottle. With unpredictable vocals that never quite seem to go where you’d expect, over a catchy bassline by Olle Bergholzall, the song immediately establishes the themes of escaping from the ordinary, with fierce emotions over an accelerating journey of life’s extremes. A third of the way in, the tempo begins to slow. The pounding, rhythmic drumbeat from Oliver Nehammer gains dominance. The guitars and bassline soon join him in a repetitive riff that picks up speed, foot on the pedal and rapidly accelerating. It's a song that's just begging the audience to indulge in the chaos with them - if some songs ask for a mosh pit, 'Ride' doesn't just bring up the question, it demands a pit be made and it had better be made right now.

Fourth track 'The Pounding Chest' is a good breather with its slower pace, a pit-stop along the race the album takes us on. However, where the band are best is when they're revelling in discordance, and this song steps off that road in a less-than-memorable way. Their vocals are strong, but the track struggles to find its place. One of the longer songs in this release, the next track 'Anthem' clocks in at around four minutes. There's a slow build-up in the first minute-and-a-half that at first seems like it would drag, but almost as soon as you start looking at your watch, wondering where the action is, it appears and the song kicks into gear with a rolling drumbeat and catchy guitars.

'Lighten Up' is one that doesn’t make you wait for the good stuff. It moves off at a speedy pace, coming to an apparent, abrupt close after two minutes. The guitars fade out, and the drums cease. Then, a bass strum. Immediately we're back in the thick of it. With a messy, discordant breakdown, the vocals and instrumental fight for dominance in true punk fashion.

Their third and final single release, 'Hey Girl' is yet another catchy song, slightly reminiscent of Bratmobile. Optimistic, with catchy hooks and duelling vocals that emphasise their punchy lyrics about the love in female friendships. Following that is another standout, 'My Fantasy', a track that carries some searingly strong emotions in their memorable lyrics, with almost all of that emotion being focused into anger. It's a slightly heavier song, with an aggressive darkness encroaching on the upbeat, light-hearted sound the album primarily consists of. Final song 'A Vow of Bliss' wraps up the album with a collaborative build up of drums and bassline, guitar riff joining halfway through before the familiar dual vocals from previous songs make a welcome reappearance after a minute. It's a solid closer that doesn't overstay its welcome, bringing us to a soft end after nine high-speed tracks.

Overall, Begging Guitars is Pleaser at their most cohesive, though a question persists - is that to their detriment? Their strongest songs on this record have their own, unique qualities to bring them ahead, while others blend together in ways that make them hard to distinguish from each other. There are times when the vocals and instrumental clash in a messy, unrefined way that works on some tracks, though others make you wish you could reach out to the mix and turn the volume up on the vocals. Ultimately the album has its standouts in 'Ride', 'Lighten Up', and 'My Fantasy', while others seem destined to become album-only listens.

Score: 6/10

Begging Guitars will be released on May 23rd 2025 via Part Time Records.

Words: Naomi Colliar Duff

Photos: Pleaser