anamoe drive / THUMPER – The Rip
It’s no secret that musicians work on several projects at the same time – a chance for the individual to spread their wings, explore different genres, and soak up the experience of more than one option has to offer. Today, we’re taking a gander at the Irish artist Oisin Leahy Furlong as a solo artist and the lead vocalist for THUMPER. Yes, it’s a listen to one song brought to life by two bands – THUMPER’s ‘The Rip’ and anamoe drive’s ‘the rip’. It’s one song, but such diversity showcases Oisin Leahy Furlong’s innovation and originality; don’t forget the power of THUMPER’s guitarists and drummers, of course.
Let’s start with anamoe drive’s ‘the rip’. Following the single, ‘the irish wolfhound’, Furlong’s self-produced single treads across the realm of indie-folk, blending the soothing of percussion with the tinge of indie-rock guitars. For me, the driving force of ‘the rip’ is the layers of traditional Irish folk with its lilt toward a haunting but simultaneously gentle charm. Soft and smooth with an almost piercing jaggedness and obscurity; rich vocals and vulnerable lyricism, ‘the rip’ delicately unpicks the intricacies of relationships and, well, simply being.
When it comes to THUMPER’s version, Furlong does a complete 180. Recorded by producer Rian Trench with mixing by Alex Ferrar, this ‘The Rip’ bursts with bombastic alternative rock flair. Instead of a subdued melody pierced with obscurity, THUMPER hits you between the eyes with pounding drums and crashing guitars, recklessly pushing you from pillar to post. A sonic wave of raw passion and power crashes about; tumultuous, a bit crazy and brimming with chaotic urgency.
While the single details a “night so consumed by anxiety and consumption that it can’t acknowledge something special happening between two people… the song acknowledges how self-centred the narrative is…”, the individual genres seemingly add a different attitude. anamoe drive’s more subdued approach has a veiled, sinister aggression – the case where your mind whispers ashamed desperation. THUMPER, however, blasts with forceful aggression, urgency, and an in-your-face-poked-in-the-chest attack.
In some cases, you might find a particular version more enjoyable; that is not the case with ‘the rip’ or ‘The Rip’. Each version finds different means to offer the same narrative, so it really depends on your mood. I highly recommend you take a listen to both THUMPER and anamoe drive and decide for yourself.
Find out more about THUMPER on their official website, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
Find out more about anamoe drive on his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
