Formed during the pandemic of 2020, Wird are a London based band who revel in big riffs and grungy noises. Taking various influences from the 90s, they shared their ‘Screwed’ debut in 2022, which immediately cast itself in a Puddle of Mudd vein with its post-Nirvana Cobain-isms, and chugging approach, before ‘Clown’ took the band into slightly heavier climes with the aid of copious amounts of feedback and a sludgy guitar riff that equalled a number of second division grunge acts.

Their current single ‘Lies’ isn’t quite so accessible since it explores Wird’s more atonal side, but in some ways, its lack of compromise helps the track to present itself like the ultimate 90s throwback. Following a burst of feedback, a distorted riff rises. It’s heavy mid tempo approach feels both sludgy and relatively lo-fi, despite the track boasting a fairly solid set of production values. As that riff continues, the deliberately leaden pace makes the noisier elements seem even more abrasive, and the arrival of a slurred vocal really reinforces the 90s feel.

A couple of simple hooks works very much in the band’s favour. Firstly, there’s a repetitive lyric which slowly buids tension before hanging everything on an angry one line chorus. Then, there’s the heavy riff, which has been called Nirvana-esque, but for those who were deeply into the grunge thing circa 1993, this will actually feel more reminiscent of other acts. The weighty riff carries more than a hint of Silverchair in places, whilst the deliberately difficult vocal stance appears to lift from the Melvins’ legendary King Buzzo throughout.

Time could be spent quibbling over the finer points of where Wird have lifted riffs or borrowed influence, but it doesn’t change the fact that ‘Lies’ shares a pleasingly retro sound. It plays like the work of a band still looking to refine their craft, but that in itself should please listeners who enjoy stuff that’s still raw.

Check out the video below. [Warning: Contains flashing images]