Words by Lady Godiva

While live music was scarce during the pandemic, some creative gems were unearthed. Rotterdam outfit, Tramhaus, are a striking example – coming to prominence in no time and getting booked before they had any releases due to the outstanding quality of their performances. Following in the footsteps of their Dutch punk and post punk roots, they are a force to be reckoned with, standing and sounding larger than life on stage. One cannot remain unmoved in their orbit, it is a vehement experience. 

Lukas Jansen, lead vocalist and charismatic figurehead, unleashes the beast both live and on recording and, as a magnetic catalyst, leads the band to their wilder side with his impressive stamina and range. This autumn, Tramhaus released their much anticipated debut record, having moved on from their earlier material, displaying a more radical side which is in tune with the magnitude of their shows. 

The album cover for The First Exit sets the tone, blue skies on paper torn by the intrusion of a naked hairy leg. The message is clear, these song warriors are on a mission to break the status quo and tear down established rules. The album is a statement that incorporates a landslide of raw emotion. Entitled “The Cause”, the opener bombards the listener with caveman rock vocals, one is inexorably under Tramhaus’s thumb. They cunningly catch you off guard though, as the spirit suddenly lifts and oscillates. “Once Again” is on a mellower note but still immediate in its dynamic, in the style of Parquet Courts,  before Jansen delivers another vocal tidal wave. At its most composed, the singer’s style is reminiscent of Thurston Moore, miles away from his dark animal side.

The tension lies in the rollercoaster between the placid and the raw and also the figurative, the lyrics and the physical manifestation, how the words are literally expelled from Jansen’s lungs. Nick Cave’s singing style in his Birthday Party era springs to mind, he seemed possessed. Whatever demons are racking this frontman’s brain, he exorcizes them with flair, “Worthwhile” oozes the most shoegaze vibes on the record, a sly nod to My Bloody Valentine‘s iconic Loveless. 

Equally rooted in the early nineties, “The Big Blowout” echoes fragments of Sonic Youth circa Goo. This mosaic of sounds never states the obvious and is merely an ornament on a rock steady rough diamond. Guitar slayers Nadya Van Osnabrugge  and Micha Zaat complement each other perfectly as partners in sonic crime, these abrasive licks keep the listener on tenterhooks in the manner of a spider weaving its web whilst Jansen does his tantalizing narrative bungee-jumping.  As a final track, “Past Me” opens the gate to another dimension, gloriously closing the chapter. 

The First Exit is an epic way out loaded with inextinguishable power, a formidable dopamine shot. Tramhaus earn their spurs giving pride of place to the more raucous, cavernous and begrimed roots of rock.

Released on Subroutine Records in September 2024, The First Exit is available to order here