Ominous, dark, and intoxicating, SORE’s latest single is a short and hot-headed piece of post-punk that’s memorable with its haunting chords, oppressively heavy mix, and gripping vocals arrangement. A simple song on the surface, ‘SMILE’ has more depth than first meets the eye, showcasing a clear songwriting talent.
SORE is a one-girl band based in Balham, England. SORE’s latest single was written about the sensational horror film of the same name, and about the supernatural being in the disturbing SMILE. Stylistically, ‘SMILE’ is a post/pop-punk number with an infectious groove, soft and characterful vocals, and a dark world in which everything on the song resides.
This darkness is easily felt in the heavy-handed and prominent bass line, mixed loudly and in the forefront of the mix, lending its massive weight to the sound of the song. Moreover, the steady-handed drum groove is battering and momentous, taking short, incomplete moments of respite here and there as the bass momentarily disappears, only for a moment before it kicks back in with just as much oppressive power. The menace continues to the chords themselves, with the song written around a 3-chord loop that does not begin on the home chord, giving the flow of the song a palpable sense of restlessness that’s eerily fitting with the remainder of the elements of the song.
‘SMILE’ is a terrifically written song that’s pop and fun, yet punk, heavy, and dark. The infectious vibes that SORE crafts are immaculate and the looming mix perfectly encapsulates the foreboding sensations of the haunting SMILE.
