B-Side Guys

First singles can often feel like tentative introductions, but The Warlochs’ “Clay” arrives fully formed and unafraid to get its hands dirty. Like its titular material, the track demonstrates both malleability and structural integrity, building toward a drum solo at 3:55 that deserves every bit of the band’s proud recommendation.

The lyrics work in elemental imagery – clay, blood, dust – creating a primal vocabulary for discussing transformation and destruction. “Stray pieces of clay” and “Break my favorite mug/And ground it to dust” bookend a meditation on creation and demolition that feels both personal and mythological.

The metaphorical weight of “The bees in your brain” creates an immediate sense of internal chaos, while “Break the side of the frame/That keeps you the same” suggests liberation through destruction. It’s the kind of writing that trusts listeners to find their own meaning in the debris.

What’s particularly striking is how the band maintains tension throughout the track’s build toward Bryan’s showstopping drum solo. Rather than feeling tacked on, the percussion explosion at 3:55 feels earned – like watching a sculptor suddenly attack their creation with renewed inspiration.

The chorus’s simple declaration “You got your reasons/And I don’t mind/You got your reasons/And I got mine” serves as an anchor point, returning listeners to solid ground between sonic explorations. It’s delivered with the kind of detachment that suggests acceptance rather than indifference.

As a preview of their forthcoming October LP, “Clay” suggests a band that understands both the value of patience (building toward that drum solo) and the importance of immediate impact (those opening images of clay and bees). The production maintains enough roughness to feel authentic while demonstrating clear intentionality in its sonic architecture.

The image of hands covered in blood paired with “elephant love” creates an intriguing tension between violence and tenderness, suggesting relationships that leave marks both beautiful and painful. This duality runs throughout the track, from its quiet moments to its explosive culmination.

In choosing “Clay” as their introduction to the world, The Warlochs have made a bold statement about their artistic priorities – valuing raw materials and skilled craftsmanship in equal measure. The result is something that feels both carefully shaped and thrillingly unpredictable.

For a debut single, “Clay” suggests impressive maturity – understanding both when to exercise restraint and when to let the drums take flight. October’s LP has a lot to live up to, but this first offering suggests a band more than capable of rising to their own challenge.