**This review originally appeared in our November 2026 issue**
Photo by Pete Perry
“The tone on the guitar is so fierce that it cuts through the low end like a knife, slicing for attention, while the smokey vocals move throughout like a ghost, and the drums demand that everything fits in place.”
Self-described as “bubblegum boot rock for the masses,” Flavour has been steadily rising to the top of the local scene, and certainly has the talent and ambition to make it on a national level. Needless to say, I was thrilled to be one of the first to hear their new album, Zip It Up.
As is customary with most of my reviews, I begin writing while listening to the album for the very first time. I like to get my first impression down, before repetition brings familiarity, which can alter my opinion.
I also listen through very large speakers, at full volume.
Now that the mood is set, let’s get into Zip It Up.
Zip It Up opens with the title track. Listeners are immediately met with a sizzling riff from an ultra-fuzzy guitar, launching into a straight forward, four-on-the-floor buildup, crescendoing with a perfect rock-n-roll vocalization of “Uh!”
From there, we get a slick groove that would be right at home on a 1970’s rock station, while somehow sounding new, original, and dare I say it, a little bit punk-rock? Like T-Rex, Big Star and Sonic Youth were thrown into a blender. I may be biased as a bass player myself, but the bassline in this opening track really takes the lead and drives the song like a freight train.
The tone on the guitar is so fierce that it cuts through the low end like a knife, slicing for attention, while the smokey vocals move throughout like a ghost, and the drums demand that everything fits in place.
This is seriously one of the best opening tracks I have heard on an album in a long time. It sets the tone for the rest of the album, and easily establishes the talent on display from the “super-group” of sorts (Flavour is made up of members of Brule County Bad Boys, as well as The Abyssmals).
Moving on, “Diamond” is a raucous, surfy tune that made it nearly impossible for me to type, due to the rocking of my head and tapping of my toes. The dichotomy between the peppy, high-toned rhythm of the song and the low drawl of the vocals feels like a masterclass in composition. Every element sits perfectly within its own space, without crowding one another. The bass drum keeps a steady drive, but the bass guitar is not in lock-step with it. Instead, bassist Tex is able to go for a stroll, walking the bass line all over the place, without ever losing time.
“Radiation Boogie” is up next, which serves to propel the album deeper into one of my favorites of the year. Encapsulating clean production and a crystal-clear mix, “Radiation Boogie” comes right in with a brilliant groove laid down by rhythm section Tex and James, but it is really Jason Reyes’ guitar licks that play the star in this one. His guitar work is undeniably influenced by guitar-gods of the ‘70s, but his ability to take the classic ingredients and make something fresh is stunning.
If you are hoping for a couple of slow-jams, this probably isn’t the album for you. The closest Zip It Up comes to a slow song is “Topaz Stone,” which comes in right around 111bpm. While I mentioned Sonic Youth earlier, I would be remiss not to mention the reason I make the comparison. Not only does Benjamin Wessels have a similar laid-back, effortlessly cool delivery as Thurston Moore, but the harmonies and tertiary vocals of this track especially also capture a vibe that is reminiscent of early ‘90s post-punk.
The second half of the album begins with “The Tingler,” a manic rock-’n’-roller that not only makes it difficult to stop tapping one’s feet, but also damn near impossible to stay seated. From there the album does not let up for four songs, before wrapping up with a song simply named after the band.
“Flavour” is a seven-plus minute jam that has everything from guitar solos, jaunty piano solos and tempo changes, all culminating in a break-neck climax that would be just as fitting closing out a set at a beer-drenched bar as it is closing out this album.
Flavour has absolutely tapped into something special here. It is as if they took some near-ancient ingredients and concocted a potion of rock-’n’-roll for modern days. It is pure brilliance and I hope you enjoy it half as much as me.
Listen to Zip it Up at tastetheflavour.bandcamp.com
