8/10

Throughout the last few years, London-based outfit Ghum have been steadily unveiling bold and energetic post-punk anthems. Stretching back as far as 2017, the four-piece have been slowly building a reputation for fast and frantic offerings that bring a burst of energy to a genre that has since become more gloomy and atmospheric in recent times. But after a heavy few years that saw the pandemic put the brakes on their momentum, they have now decided to dive in and deliver their long-awaited debut album 'Bitter', a record that brings together their vibrant legacy under one roof.

Fans of the band will be very familiar with the collection's tracklist, given that much of this new release has been unveiled as singles and EPs in recent years. But despite much of the full-length bringing back older material, Ghum have still managed to deliver a fresh and rousing array of blistering gems that cement their direction to date. Choosing to whip out some of their more euphoric and impactful cuts so far, 'Bitter' creates a retrospective look at their tenure so far, and creates this wonderfully bold and vivid look into the inner mindset of the group right now.

Inventive and progressive as often as possible, 'Bitter' stands as one of the more compelling debut records we have heard so far this year. Maintaining their rich and explorative energy from start to finish, they have conjured this brilliantly engaging sound that feels like the beginning of so much more to come.