“Rust” is one of my favourite songs of the year (it was released mid-December, but I’ll let that slide). Witch Post‘s gorgeous melody and the interplay of Dylan Fraser’s gravelly, wistful tone with Alaska Reid’s fragile, pitch-perfect vocal is some kind of alchemy, with the overlapping vocals often feeling spontaneous or ad-libbed. I loved their first couple of singles so much that I broke my own three-song rule to post about the band back in January.
In the pre-streaming days, a song this good would’ve had me worried the rest of the record wouldn’t measure up. But Beast delivers in spades. Its six songs cover a lot of ground: raw, ‘90s-style alt-rock on the debut single “Chill Out” to the ragged, experimental edge of “The Wolf,” with its haunting, primal vibe. “Rust” itself stands out as a tender gem, blending raw intimacy with a bedroom-pop haze that feels straight out of a forgotten ‘90s mixtape.
The duo—Alaska Reid from Livingston, Montana, and Dylan Fraser from Livingston, Scotland—bonded over their shared hometown names, and you can hear that transatlantic collision in the music. It’s got the rugged grit of Americana, mixed with Fraser’s heart-on-sleeve European pop instincts. The result captures the wide-open ache of the American West and the rainy introspection of a Scottish afternoon, a contrast Reid and Fraser leaned into while writing. “Spell” feels like it’s from another era entirely—a melancholy, irresistible duet that could’ve been a lost ‘70s rock classic.
It’s gorgeous, melancholy and irresistible:
Even though Reid and Fraser are established solo artists, they have a surprising familiarity on this record. Beast feels comfortable and worn-in, like a favorite leather jacket. It’s been my go-to during this rainy, gloomy Canadian spring—the fuzzy guitars and haunting harmonies match the mood perfectly.
Per this interview in Clash, they’re already at work on EP2. Can’t wait to hear what’s next.
