Metalcatto
Looking at The Bitter Pills’ artwork made me have a ton of questions, none of them terribly flattering. So, I’m suspecting that I might have some issues with The Bitter Pills. You might say that I’m being judgmental, but after reviewing hundreds of albums, I’m entitled to have some biases, right? Anyway, let me tell you if this sounds good or not.
I mean no offense, but the first seconds after the intro, I felt I was about to experience a St. Anger rendition. Fortunately, this was a false alarm. The Bitter Pills sounds like what would happen if a Stoner Rock band compressed those unbearably slow and long songs and made them short and fast. The result is something that sounds retro and Hard Rock-like, but that could use more risks. It’s a curious blend, but it doesn’t quite commit to either side enough to be truly memorable.
Without these super saturated guitars, this album would be utterly offensive. Fortunately, the production does some favors to the track by enhancing this dirty sound and giving it a less commercial vibe, because the songwriting and everything else is more accessible than fast food at McDonald’s. If you’re paying attention, you’ll notice I’m not too enthusiastic about The Bitter Pills. Time to explain why.
Even if I dig the guitar tone, the rest of the album is less salvageable. There’s just not much that makes my blood warm. The album could perfectly fit on the radio, but in this blog, where we mostly cover weird works and avant-garde experiments, that’s not necessarily a compliment. Even if the album isn’t a heavy listen, it didn’t manage to convince me. Very tragic, right? But we’ll recover, or at least hope so. The album plays it safe, and while that’s not a crime, it doesn’t leave a lasting impression either.
The Bitter Pills honored the band name by making an album that, though not a disaster, did take some writing decisions that made me think the band could have sacrificed a bit of its catchiness for a more impactful entrance. But well, it is what it is.
Label: Independent
Release date: September 25th, 2026
Website: https://www.facebook.com/TheBitterpills
Country: UK
Score: 2.5/5.0
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