{"id":13808,"date":"2026-05-07T16:11:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T15:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=13808"},"modified":"2026-06-28T16:15:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T15:15:54","slug":"onlooker-change-things-up-for-second-album-cleveland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=13808","title":{"rendered":"Onlooker change things up for second album Cleveland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ALBUM REVIEW: Onlooker – Cleveland (Serial Bowl Records)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

I first came across Teesside band Onlooker <\/strong>back in 2020, when I received their Split EP with Tyneside band Ballpeen (reviewed here<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then I’ve seen them live for the first time and bought their debut album, 2022’s Total Rest<\/em>, released, like this follow-up, by Sunderland’s Serial Bowl Records (home to the likes of Slalom D, Diaz Brothers and Dealing With Damage).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The debut was an enjoyable slice of raw garage-punk, which got rave reviews and enhanced their growing reputation, but after its release they changed direction quite drastically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After beginning to make the follow-up at a residential studio in Scotland, they decided to scrap what they’d done, bring in a vocalist and re-write and re-record the new album with a fresh vision for the band.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Gradually re-doing everything themselves, in studios, lockups and houses, they emerged a little later than expected with Cleveland<\/em>, named after their now non-existent home county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems to be the ‘in’ thing nowadays for albums to have a theme, but Cleveland <\/em>bucks that trend. Its songs are about anxiety and sadness, joy and triumph, protesting and the importance of a decent cup of tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the course of 11 tracks the band show how they’ve grown, with the likes of Gang Of Four and Wire influencing them as much as Fugazi and Black Flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their sound includes elements of garage rock, post-punk and hardcore, which means they’re hard to pigeonhole, but it remains rooted in punk, and is an absorbing listen.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Onlooker frontman Will Rayment performing at The Peacock in Sunderland. Pic by Gary Welford.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Onlooker’s twin guitar attack and propulsive rhythm section means they’re a powerful proposition, but what’s transformed them most is the addition of Will Rayment, who’s taken over vocals from bassist Kevin Ridden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His delivery varies from almost spoken word to feral howls, and the music remains just as urgent, with more twists and turns than your average Grand Prix circuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Formula Tofu<\/em>, powered by scuzzy guitars and a throbbing bassline, sounds like The Hives and gets things off to a pacey start, and Sit Tight<\/em> – all short, sharp riffs – maintains the pace. What better next than a nice Cuppa Tea<\/em>? What indeed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s shades of DIY indie-rockers Art Brut here, and I can see the chorus “all I need is a cuppa tea, to pour me out of my misery” making this a live favourite.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Onlooker performing at The Peacock in Sunderland. Pic by Gary Welford.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Wonderfully off-kilter riffs punctuate Peaceful Protest<\/em>, while Wishing Wellaye<\/em> produces Rayment’s first slightly unhinged vocal performance of the record – but not the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carpool <\/em>and the jagged Disco Biscuits<\/em> pave the way for Better Get Better<\/em>, whose thrashing guitars raise the tempo in a manner reminiscent of Dischord bands of the ’80s and early ’90s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the ineffectual Hook-a-duck<\/em>, it’s foot down into the final straight with the epic Suburban Dreams<\/em>, all six minutes-plus of it, but Onlooker save the best ’til last with Status Quo<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s slow, sludgy and repetitive and Rayment puts everything he’s got into his vocals, sounding utterly spent by the end as he asks, again and again, “will I make it through?”. A magnificent ending to an album full of delights. 8\/10<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n