Real Friend - Squamata (2024) - Album Review

    Real Friend is a band from Calgary, Alberta, who formed in 2022, releasing their first EP in 2023. The band consists of Noah Gall, Kyle Pierce and Ayden Hamilton. In October of 2024, Real Friend released their first full-length album, Squamata, which is now available to stream on Spotify, Bandcamp and Apple Music. 

    Squamata is a genre-defying, dynamic display of Real Friend's versatility as a band. Their sound ranges from mathy and complex to no-wave influenced to noisy post-punk to acoustic. Reminiscent at times of Slint or the more no-wavey bands like No Trend, Real Friend manages to combine an amalgamation of distinct styles into something of their very own. 

    When the album release was announced, the band stated that they did everything for the album on their own, including purchasing recording equipment to record and produce all tracks to stay loyal to their "DIY" ethos. All members of the band contributed to all parts ie. lyrics, drums, guitar etc, meaning the album took them about 7-8 months to complete. "100% made from our decisions alone. From us to you" the band says in their announcement post on Instagram. The completely DIY approach to recording and releasing without a label is evident in the music itself. There is so much passion poured into this album, and it exudes from every song, resulting in an incredibly raw and intimate sound. They also made individual works of art for each track on the album, which were shared on their Instagram and also viewable when each track is played on Spotify. 

    One of my favourite things about Real Friend is that they have never been scared to shy away from the different, the strange, the experimental. That is not an easy feat in a music scene where it seems everything has to sound like a piece in a puzzle of uniformity to be considered "good." Real Friend's angular guitar riffs, abrasive, dissonant vocal style, and refusal to be bound to one genre may drive some away, but to me, this is what makes them stand out from a sea of mediocrity. 

    Also of note, is the band members' noticeable synchronicity with each other, there is an obvious trust and connection between them which is evident in their music, but even more so in their live sets. They make eye contact and are constantly aware of what each other member is doing, preparing for the next part of the song. They very much work in unison which is important in any band but not always the case. 

    My favourite track off Squamata is "Acrodonta", a 10-minute track with very math rock-influenced riffs and intensely raw and desperate vocals I can only describe as emo. There is a calculated chaos to the song that reminds me of bands such as Clikatat Ikatowi or Maximillian Colby but with a touch more dissonance.