Review: The Mirror Trap ­- 'Simulations'

    If Hollywood were to make a biopic about how Dundee based five-piece The Mirror Trap were plucked from obscurity by an iconic rock god, and thrust upon larger stages, then they would change the location to Seattle. They would change the music college where the band members met to some fucked up version of Glee, and the part of Brian Molko would be played by Jack Black in full-on ham mode.They would struggle to get their heads round the fact that Molko spotted the fledgling band in their hometown, and connected with them enough to bring them out to Russia to open for Placebo, before having them open the alt­rocker’s 2015 UK tour. Fairytales do happen, and The Mirror Trap are living proof of this, but of course they had to have the songs to attract Molko’s attention in the first place. Aggressive, anthemic, melodic songs, that sink their hooks into you to provoke a reaction. Apathy isn’t a word in The Mirror Trap’s vocabulary, that’s for sure. It’s a fast album, as evident with opener ‘Under The Glass Tower’, which explodes into life with it’s short, sharp, almost punk like execution. The song is played at a frenzied pace, and the wall of guitars engulf the listener, as Gary Moore spits out his vocals with real venom. At two and a half minutes,theres on chance of the song dragging on. The band change tack many times on the album, which is pleasing, as the pigeonholers will be struggling where to fit The Mirror Trap. Fans of Queens Of The Stone Age could be as likely to enjoy them as much as fans of Bring Me The Horizon, as it seems fans these days are less bothered about musical tags than previous generations. It’s more ‘Reading and Leeds’ than ‘Download’ though. Stick The Mirror Trap in a packed tent at a festival, get them to blast through ‘Under The Glass Tower’, ’New Trance’, or ‘No ID’, and stand back and watch the walls bulge from the sheer ferocity coming from the stage. The mid section of the album stands out as first ‘Piranhas’ then ‘Joyride’, and finally ‘Second Life’, all offer up three different slices of music.’Piranhas’ is dark and brooding, with a menacing undertone, while ‘Joyride’ is the stand out track on the album. A simple piano intro over tortured vocals from Moore as the band gently ease into the song. A fragile song that if it had been Biffy Clyro playing it, then Simon Neil would be up collecting a Ivor Novello songwriting award right now. If Radio One edited the F-­bomb out, then this would light up the twitter­verse on its first play. Rounding out the trio is ‘Second Life’, which is far lighter than its two predecessors. Threes some Molko influence on this one, and its modern rock sound is simply massive. ‘Simulations’ is released on July 8th and with Kerrang, Rocksound, and Team Rock lending their support, the time is right for The Mirror Trap to be the next band to break out of Scotland. Some prestigious Summer festival shows serve as a prelude to the band hitting the road with Placebo in Europe later this year.