4 out of 5

Label: Run for Cover Records

Produced by: Larry Crane, Jack Shirley

Man, what a fun journey Gouge Away have been on, from throat-shredding thrash punk to grungier polish on their 2024 outing, and now proving deep cut bona fides by covering 80s punkers Grauzone on the B-side of this single. The “threat” for any band evolving in this general trajectory is that they’re going to get glossy and poppy, and we’ll maintain they’re still good, but, like, we miss the punk stuff.

Figurine shows that the group is still maintaining a great balance between old and new, with Christina Michelle absolutely tearing up the vocals still, while the track itself is as traditionally grunge / alternative rock as it gets, producer Larry Crane balancing out the approaches with punchy shine. Michelle’s lyrics are veering more towards obscure narrative; it’s an interesting space for the group to flex – to keep shouting and hitting the instruments hard while maybe structuring their tunes in a more accessible way, and “maturing” past outright political / social rages (which are not immature, but seem to mark bands as either punk youths or punk eldsters).

Grauzone’s Eisbar lets the group play in a comparatively pop space – 80s post-punk kinda sounds that way nowadays, whoops – but there’s room for GA to add in some trippier layers and loops to the song.

An ideal pairing of a solid single with an experimental backer.