I first heard Blaenavon (pronounced bline-av-un) play by surprise, during the Eurosonic Noorderslag showcase festival in 2014. In my notes, I describes them as a ‘psychedelic teeny wave band’. By the time they released their debut album That’s Your Lot, in 2017, they sounded much more sophisticated.

Since then, things have gone quiet around the band. Two weeks ago, in a brutally honest note, singer Ben Gregory explained why: he had been hospitalised after incurring a stress-related breakdown. During his recovery, he and the band recorded their second album Everything That Makes You Happy, which Gregory says is ‘about suffering, guilt, love, family and overcoming trauma’.

Catatonic Skinbag is the long-player’s first single. A fierce comeback, that reminds me of Ash (a band I like very much).

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Werner Schlosser

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.