The Backfires – This Is Not An Exit

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Formed in 2018, the NYC and London-based band, The Backfires are Alex Gomez (vocals), Harry Ruprecht (guitar), Max Wanduragala (drums), and Matt Walter (bass), and their debut LP titled This Is Not An Exit is a thrilling mix of dance-able indie rock. When speaking on the cover art and LP title, Alex Gomez shared, “We took the name from this white sign with big red letters that’s backstage at the Mercury Lounge. I don’t know what’s behind that door, but I know wherever this record leads is deeper inside. This record is a culmination of our years going back and forth between shows, between continents. It’s the end of a chapter, and the start of an era.” What is found on This Is Not An Exit is an entry point to a solid combination of artistic styles that quickly resemble the anthemic pop-rock of The Killers, the working-man pub rock of Catfish & The Bottlemen, and the beats of Franz Ferdinand, all put on blend in a crowd-pleasing concoction.

The LP launches off on the right foot with lead single “Brighter Lights” that sets the stage for The Backfires unique blend of bass-heavy rock with a bit of 80’s flair much like Hot Hot Heat and Silversun Pickups perfected over their tenure. The band’s ability to sound familiar, yet unique in their approach to songwriting is pretty remarkable. “Never Seen Before” follows the great opener with a similar style, and the Harry Ruprecht guitar riff reminded me of the Catfish and the Bottlemen song “Pacifier.” The slight variation in tones makes for a complementary addition into the indie rock realm.

”Dressed For a Funeral” kicks off with a wall of sound in the first few bars before allowing the bass of Matt Walter to take center stage in the verses. It all quickly builds to a raucous chorus led by charismatic frontman Alex Gomez. Other early standouts like “Replace it All” are sure to be a staple in The Backfires’ set for the foreseeable future, while the guitar groove of “Turn Off The Lights” is a slick mixture of steady guitar riffing paired with some well-toned vocals.

The middle section of the record never sags under its own weight, as “Matador” leads the charge with an early-The Strokes vibe paired with a cool tone to the guitar riffs to keep things interesting. The energy level is frenetic throughout This is Not an Exit, and the band cements their place as a worthy act to follow for this year and beyond. The drumming of Wanduragala is emphasized on the brash “Figure It Out”, while “Aphrodite” is a starry-eyed, mid-tempo ballad that showcases what The Backfires are capable of making when they play off of their influences.

”I Know You Know” is another bass-heavy song in the verses, while the rest of the band rallies around Gomez’s every lyric as he emphatically enters the chorus. The cadence and poise of Gomez is flawless, and he clearly captivates as a convincing frontman. The album closes with the slightly somber opening tone of the title track that eventually picks up pace as the vocals kick in and The Backfires leave the right taste in listeners’ mouths on their debut record. This Is Not An Exit is far from ground-breaking as far as stylistic choices go, but the band does this music so well that it’s easy to let those comparisons fall to the wayside and enjoy this album to the fullest. I’m sure The Backfires wouldn’t have it any other way.

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