Storrs-based rock band Tweed Sugar released their new extended play “7 Letter Word” on Friday, Nov. 7, featuring six songs that have been staples of the band’s live sets.
The EP is the first full-length project the band has released since 2022’s “Made With Sugar.” It’s the first record to feature the band’s current lineup, which consists of Lorin Pellegrino on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Brennen Ravenberg, bassist Sebastian Rodriguez and drummer Sean Byington.
The EP opens with “Zebra,” which was released as the second single from the project in October. The combination of a heavy guitar riff and rapid fire hi-hat rolls gives way into a menacing, grunge-esque groove that immediately draws the listener in. It’s the heaviest song on the album, making it perfect for showgoers in the Storrs scene to mosh to at shows. Pellegrino’s vocals are sharp and intense, putting a great amount of power behind chorus lines like “Hold your breath and count to three, pose a threat so it seems like it’s ruining my life, but I always knew.”
Following “Zebra” is “Dr. Messina,” which starts off with quick staccato guitar chords before the rest of the band jumps in with an upbeat, alternative rock beat. The song veers into ska in the pre-chorus, with the rhythm section of Rodriguez and Byington leading the charge there as Pellegrino hits high notes with the line “You already know” before opening up for a rocking chorus. The lyrics, like much of the album, speak of the frustrations of college life, including the chorus line of “Lazy, crazy, there’s more words to describe me.”
“Believe” is a tour de force that shows a band in absolute lockstep with each other as they wind their way through complex arrangements with seamless transitions. The airy chorus features effect-laden guitar chords that the listener can fall back into. This easily shifts into a much faster solo section, with Ravenberg delivering a blazing guitar solo that echoes jazz fusion guitar greats like Larry Carlton, while Byington works the bell of the ride cymbal perfectly to keep up the intensity, before shifting back into the chorus like nothing happened at all.
“After Awhile,” the first single released, is the heart and soul of “7 Letter Word.” The lyrics show Pellegrino at his most vulnerable as he speaks of the pressures of his current life in college while reflecting on simpler childhood memories. The chorus line “If I could escape all of this sound, maybe the world would stop spinning around” is sung in a way where the listener can feel him longing for an escape. Even after multiple listens, his delivery is still every bit as impactful.
One of the highlights of the EP — and Tweed Sugar’s sound as a whole — is how effortlessly the quartet is able to shift between different styles and feels. This is evident on “Pink & Twisted,” which features a bouncy swing rhythm. Like “Believe,” it also features a faster instrumental bridge, with this one being the most fusion-inspired moment on the album thanks to the inspired playing of the rhythm section.
Closing out the EP is “I Like It When You’re Here,” which starts with a crescendo led by guitar and semi open hi-hat before exploding into a massive, descending riff played by Pellegrino and Ravenberg. Pellegrino’s lyrics are focused on someone who he hasn’t seen in a while – presumably an ex or a friend – and shows a longing for this person with lines like “How’ve you been?, I miss when you bring the sunshine, I’m sorry it had to end” and “For my last wish, I want nothing more than your mind.” Ravenberg delivers another searing solo as the band fires away behind him, with Byington letting loose with perfectly-timed fills and cymbal hits. The final chord rings out long before giving way to a few seconds of silence, allowing the listener to process the six-song journey they just went on.
“7 Letter Word” showcases a band hitting a new musical peak, combining genres and styles so effortlessly and performing it all with an infectious amount of energy. Storrs audiences should get excited to hear these songs the next time Tweed Sugar takes the stage in Cow-town.
Rating: 5/5