Shrink: Gritty Alt-Rock Meets the Delicacy of Folk Lyricism

Daisy
Mar 5
3 min read

After a daring dash from Hampshire to Somerset, topped with flat tyres and heavy downpours, I finally made it to St James Wine Vaults to see the new band on the block: Shrink.

Despite the name, the music that I heard filled the entire room with ever expanding melodic haziness. Honestly, I think the crowd, including myself, lost all sense of time; all instead transfixed by the band at the front of the curved cellar, lit by neon lights.

Initially, the first thing that struck the listeners in this band was that everything felt so intentional. It was tight, purposeful and brought forth a real clarity on what Shrink. sounds like. Ambience laced with jagged dissonance and modulation to keep everyone on edge, somehow this set was a mixture of serenity contrasted with evocative swings in mood.

This set was a mixture of serenity contrasted with evocative swings in mood

The tones of the guitars were impeccable, and it must be acknowledged that James Jack has a way with those 6 strings that just makes the full experience of each song cohesive. From song to song, the understanding of the layers needed to add just that little extra grit, or whimsical touch is just so apparent. You end up being able to enjoy the whole sound as a solid experience, as each part is so in sync with the story telling, the mood and the dynamics of each track. No need to pick apart each instrument, as it moves so well as one unit.

But I’m going to anyway, because that is what we’re here for, isn’t it.

The rhythm section here needs a special mention, because the grooves were undeniable and the moods were set so impeccably by McKenzie Belson (drums) and Sam Jones (bass and backing vocal). With the shifts in tempo, even within the same track in some cases, just further highlights that tight relationship the rhythm section has, and with the wider band too. The deep, rich addition of bass in each song felt grounding for the sonic experience, and with the drums being so perfectly arranged within the soundscape, I give full applause to the writing and execution of these parts.

The melody writing here is also deserving credit- Will Coomes (lead vocals and guitar) provided sweeping top lines that caressed their way into your ear and stayed there. Somehow in the notes and lyrics chosen, we could feel the emotions, whether that be confusion, anguish, heartache or resignation, to name just a few that hammered through the audience that wet Friday night. I think what particularly stood out to me was not only the tenor of the vocal and its unique tone, almost haunting at times but never foregoing the raw emotion at every line. It was the way that each song felt, undeniably, Shrink.

Will Coomes provides sweeping top lines that caress their way into your ear and stay there

Having never heard this band live since its first live debut back in 2025, it’s pretty amazing to me that I could already decipher a character within the the music, and yet, it’s impossible not to argue that it’s loud and clear, and so refreshing to witness a band that has found its personality as one so fluidly, and could represent it so seamlessly within a 40 minute set.

I’d say that, for anyone curious, for genre and vibe, it’s like Dove Ellis’s twist on folk meets Mary in the Junkyard’s chaos, sprinkled with some Jeff Buckley for good measure. What a cocktail of delight.

I, for one, am very excited to discover what this band has lined up, as I am now exclusively listening to the free CD they gave out at the gig in my car. I need more please.