bland - consumables

​bland

consumables
self-released; 2025

TOP ALBUM

By Jamie Funk
​

Winnipeg’s Bland open their debut EP Consumables with a sound that feels both jagged and purposeful, like they’ve figured out how to weaponize nervous energy. The band leans into the chaos of post-punk and alternative, driving sharp guitars and restless rhythms into a zone where humor and collapse coexist. There is an immediacy here that I appreciated, it makes them feel necessary.

The title Consumables doubles as a sly provocation. These songs are not about grand solutions, they are about the little fixes people cling to in order to get through the day, habits and distractions and rituals that offer temporary relief. It fits the music’s frantic momentum, always chasing a rush it knows will not last. Vocalist Ike Hedenstierna describes the project as a leap forward, a chance to finally sound like themselves, and that urgency comes through in every track.

“Panacea” is the right kind of opener, a post-punk burner that splits the difference between Metz’s heaviness, Talking Heads’ quirks, and Franz Ferdinand’s dance floor edge. The bass fuzz hums just enough, and I love the way the guitars drift between tight unison and splintered counterpoint. The intensity builds, but what really sells it for me are the vocals, which ride the chaos with a mix of confidence and mania.

“Tough Love” keeps the pace brutal and unflinching. The attitude hooked me, the song is raw, immediate, and unpretentious, carrying a sneer that reminded me of 70s punk at its most volatile. “Conman” twists the formula, sliding toward something more slanted and eccentric. I heard flashes of Pavement and The Dismemberment Plan, especially in the spoken word delivery and the tremolo guitar that lent the track a surreal, Lynchian haze.

By the time “Current Affairs” arrives, Bland sound comfortable enough to tip into Strokes-style cool without losing their edge. Closer “Is It Enough” shows a near perfect grasp of how to let fuzz become texture instead of gimmick, wrapping up the EP with the kind of scuffed-up precision that makes me want to replay it.

I have been listening to this kind of music since the 90s, back when it had a bigger cultural footprint, and hearing bland dive into it now feels invigorating. They are not reinventing the form, but they are hitting it with conviction and a wild streak that makes it feel alive again. They do it really well, and if you care about this corner of rock, you will find a lot to love here. Take a listen. Highly recommended.

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