White Hills : Beyond This Fiction

At this point the New York psych rock duo White Hills have become an institution. Muti-instrumentalists Dave W and Ego Sensation have for the better part of 20 years now been consistently writing, recording, and releasing rock and roll records that bring everything from psych, noise, industrial, garage, and Krautrock into their sound. This duo isn’t one to do the same thing twice. They’re constantly evolving their sound and aesthetic into what makes them excited about music. And with a new album nearly every two years for the last 20 years, no other band does the music grind quite like White Hills.

If you’re new to the White Hills fold, might I suggest albums like Heads On Fire, H-p1, White Hills, and Glitter Glamour Atrocity as starting points. Then once your mind is firmly rewired just start diving into everything. And if you’ve seen Jim Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive with Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston then you probably saw White Hills performing in it.

The lastest from White Hills is Beyond This Fiction. This is a fuzz-drenched rocker from start to finish. Big guitars, jaw-rattling bass, and lyrics skewering society the only way Dave W knows how. If you like big guitars and big riffs, this will be your jam.

From the get-go Beyond This Fiction is about the riffs. From album opener “Throw It Up In The Air” White Hills lay the groundwork for a guitar-heavy and vibe-heavy album. A killer groove hits you immediately with Dave W’s ominous vocals just under the surface. The vocal interplay between Dave W and Ego is a big part of the band’s sound and it’s on display perfectly here. “Clear As Day” is a big drum/bass track with Dave W spitting vitriol as the song has an overall Sonic Youth vibe. And single “Killing Crimson” has an almost noise pop feel, like something you would have seen on 120 Minutes back in the early 90s.

Elsewhere “Fiend” is low-key menace, all moody and bubbling with tension. “The Awakening” is a dark ambient track, reminiscent of their more experimental EPs of the 2000s. Very sci-fi-meets-fantasy vibes. We close on title track “Beyond This Fiction” which sounds like a march into some unknown dystopian future. There’s touches light in the vocal interplay between Dave W and Ego Sensation here. This is a stunning album closer with some tasteful guitar touches and a head-bopping beat.

After over 20 years White Hills continues to make noisy, thoughtful rock and roll with a twist of sinister for good measure. Beyond This Fiction is one of their best yet, and one of the best rock albums of 2024.