Fierce, loud and unapologetic rock – TASKRZ release eighth album HEXES

It’s been eight years since TASKRZ released their last extended record, but ‘like an animal’ they’re back out of hibernation and have finally graced us with their eighth album: HEXES. Released on October 31 on DROMA Records, it sees  guitarist Jack Tasker, bassist Thomas Downes and drummer Sophie Bret Tasker mix sludgy, grungy alt rock with crisp blood harmonies over the course of six fierce and primal tracks.

Originally coined The Taskers back in 2012, the band has seen a number of iterations since its inception as a scrappy garage rock sibling duo, later becoming a five-piece pop driven alt-rock outfit featuring cello and violin, with numerous side-projects and spinning plates like Don’t Call Me Ishmael and Futurewife, before JT, Sophie and Thomas found their groove as a trio.

TASKRZ kept developing a new sound, with Strokes-y tunes like Allo and heavier offerings such as 2018’s Graveyard Song, and in 2020, work began on their latest sonic offering. Jack said: “When the UK’s Covid lockdowns were put in place TASKRZ had just started recording two new tracks with Tom Bishop of Inspire Studios. What was meant to be simple suddenly wasn’t. With a lot of hard, creative work Tom and TASKRZ managed to get two new songs recorded in 2020 (Animal and E6), which now seems like a minor miracle. The results were immediately positive, with Animal getting BBC coverage.”

In the years that followed, the remaining four tracks were added to the cauldron and became HEXES – an album of driving guitar music that resets the dial for the band, making a departure from the poppy alt-rock sound of Wolf Party, and moves to a more passionate and alternative drive. 

The album opens with The Knot, a track that sets the tone for the entire record, inviting listeners in with brooding basslines and a marching rhythm that feels like it’s heading into war – and in a way, it is, building into a sonic assault with gritty guitar riffs and pounding drums the backdrop to Sophie Bret Tasker’s seductive rocky vocals. She really leans into her lower register with feminine flair reminiscent of artists like Miley Cyrus or Taylor Momsen. The track establishes a fierce and unapologetic atmosphere – but HEXES is only just getting warmed up.

Idols showcases the band’s ability to seamlessly blend sludgy and grungy elements with JT’s more punk-powered vocals delivered like a punch to the gut amid screaming strings and deep rumbling rhythm. An isolated finger picking bridge makes way for a stomping outro where I envisage a gig poster at The Underground starring TASKRZ performing alongside Bathtub.

E6 sees a change in pace, with a subtle yet palpable return to the band’s poppier origins, showcasing their versatility as a band with a hint of nostalgia. Sophie’s vocals intertwine with Jack’s intricate guitar work and Thomas’ bass, which is the backbone to TASKRZ signature sound. But what sets E6 apart is the effortless blood harmonies, the siblings proving that blood is thicker (that’s also an Ishmael reference…) but stronger, too, really injecting something extra special into the mix.

Recorded in 2020, Animal is probably my favourite track on the record, receiving coverage from the BBC shortly after its release. Roaring with a power that refuses to be subdued, Its infectious energy, addictive chorus, memorable lyrics and driving rhythm are a recipe for success, making it a standout moment on the album – and those drums towards the end of the track are an air percussionist’s dream.

Title track Hexes doesn’t hold back, an auditory maelstrom where you really get to see what every member of TASKRZ has to offer, from vocals delivered with grit and aggression, to a spellbinding instrumental arrangement that captures a guttural energy.

Closing the album is Mean Little Moon, a track that encapsulates the overall mood of HEXES with a sense of catharsis and contemplation. You almost go to draw comparisons to artists like Biffy Clyro with some of the guitar work, or Placebo with some of the vocals – but TASKRZ are a band incomparable and have really carved their own space in their genre.

The departure from their earlier sound is a risky move, but one that pays off. Eight years in the making, HEXES stands as a bold statement, a declaration that TASKRZ is not bound by expectations or limitations. Instead, they have forged their path, crafting a unique sound that marries grunge, alt-rock, and a touch of punk – and the result is a fierce, loud and unapologetic rock record.

Listen to HEXES by TASKRZ here on Spotify:


Looking for Something?