Review
FVRMN
Back To The Whip

Bifocal Media (2024) Loren

FVRMN – Back To The Whip cover artwork
FVRMN – Back To The Whip — Bifocal Media, 2024

This is apparently the fourth LP from FVRMN, previously known as “Fever Moon” and presumably pronounced as such. It’s not exactly a solo project, as there is a full band on Back To The Whip, but it’s definitely the brainchild of Jay Holmes (formerly of The Ladderback and also a recognized visual artist who has done design work for the likes of Black Sabbath, Windhand, Big Business, and more). To keep the namedrops coming, Mike Watt, Chris Broach (Braid), and Christian Madden (The Liam Gallagher Band) are among the guest musicians.

That’s a lengthy detour from talking about Holmes though, who wrote the record while fighting COVID, and arguably taking the band’s moniker a little too literally. The results of this are a tale of fighting, struggle, and a few curveball and dream-like mood changes over nine tracks. First, I’ll broadly summarize that this record draws big influence from the late ‘90s pop-structured gruff punk such as Leatherface. It’s mid-tempo with rough vocals and a lot of guitar. It’s more about a mood than an anthem, and the songs are often close to the 4-minute mark. It’s somewhat expansive by punk standards. Tonally the record feels downtrodden: pushing itself to get back up and keep the fight going. It’s mostly melodic guitar but sometimes switches to choppier, rhythmic tones in contrast. “Into The Earth,” mid-record, is essentially a dark waltz with lyrics about demons pulling Holmes into the earth.

While that certainly paints a picture, it’s not all so dense. There are more melodic songs like “Diamonds,” or “Esoteric Lover” or, despite the downer title, “Grim Finalé.” But it gets a little more uplifting, sonically, on “Raleigh” and other songs in the second or third person point-of-view. The first person songs deliver the emotional lows. I like the switch, as it also conveys some deeper perceptions about how people interact. “Forkburn on the Tongue,” with its raspy vocals and acoustic flourishes, reminds me of Brendan Kelly and the Wandering Birds a little bit.

Sometimes the metaphors feel a little overdone or off, distracting from the musical flow. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s on purpose. Referencing the waltzy “Into The Earth” again, the lyrics are harsh and blunt, grabbing your attention and going against the melodic flow, sort of like a disjointed fever state.

A knock might be that the record loses a little momentum from start to finish. To be honest, I feel the same way about many Leatherface records too, so maybe it’s just how I feel about this style. I dig it, but in a very precise dose. But that’s also nitpicking, because playing Back To The Whip on a loop in recent days has me picking up and appreciating a lot of nuances.

7.5 / 10Loren • July 13, 2024

FVRMN – Back To The Whip cover artwork
FVRMN – Back To The Whip — Bifocal Media, 2024

Related news

FVRMN Suicides record

Posted in Records on May 31, 2025

SPB premiere: "Esoteric Lover" by FVRMN

Posted in Videos on June 5, 2024

Recently-posted album reviews

Sexfaces

Bad Vibes OST
Slovenly (2025)

Best thing about writing reviews is finding out about new stuff that I otherwise might not have heard. Also writing reviews for bands that aren’t friends of mine is pretty cool but when I hear a band I really like, like Sex Faces, it makes me want to be friends with them, I can't help it! I’m not even halfway … Read more

Unseemlier

I Have A Screw Loose, Somewhere
Sell The Heart Records (2025)

What does Unseemlier sound like? I've been mulling that question as I listen to I Have A Screw Loose, Somewhere for a while now. As I listen to more and more Sell The Heart releases, The band is from Boston, but seemingly influenced by late '80s DC. It's heavy, but more with hardcore-like vocals shouted over moving, building guitars and … Read more

Personality Cult

Dilated
Dirtnap (2025)

I had a hard time starting this review. I can’t help coming back to the fact that it sounds like Marked Men. It does, maybe intentionally so, as Dilated is the second of Personality Cult’s albums that is produced by Jeff Burke of Marked Men and Radioactivity. But I don’t necessarily like to say a band sounds like another band … Read more