William The Conqueror - “The Bruises”

SXSW 2024 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 3

Pairs Well With…Bartees Strange, Billy Bragg, The National

William The Conqueror share a mix of dense indie rock, English folk, and melancholy pop on their latest full-length Excuse Me While I Vanish. The band’s fourth album, there is noticeable maturity in William The Conqueror’s music, full and with purpose. Post-punk grooves crisscross anthemic rock moments often within the same song and they’re able to keep the listener on their toes through these changes of mood. Sweet and accessible to feedback-driven grit, the range in William The Conqueror’s sound stands out and keeps the record spinning. Seamlessly electrifying a folk setting while never losing the plot, William The Conqueror are worth catching onto seven years past their debut. (Kevin McStravick)