Climate Control is blowing winds of change in the SA music scene with its unique blend of alternative rock, post-hardcore influences and melodic elements.
Its music speaks to the soul and this band, which has entertained live audiences for a decade, has truly stayed solid to its roots while still incorporating various elements to keep its music fresh and exciting. This South African band truly has what it takes to leave a long-lasting legacy. It has shared the stage with big international acts and its single, ‘Tidal Wave’ has been one of its biggest success stories. Now, it is continuing the climb to success with a number of killer tunes in 2016 and loads more to come. The band currently consists of Nicolas Gonzalez – vocals/guitar, Jacques du Toit – drums, Wesley Smuts – bass/vocals, Luca Zeeman – guitar and Brooklyn Pakathi – synths and keys.
Honourable mentions: Praeludium, Spiralling…Death Rattle
5. Clear Perception
This song hits you hard from the outset, like a vicious hurricane with a crunching guitar riff and fast drum work. Wesley Smuts also showcases his screaming ability in this track. The mixes between Smuts and Gonzalez in sharing vocal parts are also executed to enhance the song between softer and louder parts. This creates a great dynamic and gives it a great flow. One of my favourite tracks with a guitar solo and some stellar drum work.

4. Ghosts
‘Will you be someone who leaves a mark when you are long gone and not just letters on a stone?’
That is the question that the lead vocalist and guitarist, Nic Gonzalez asks his listeners in the beginning of the song. The intro has a fantastic sequence of different melodies that begs the listener to pay attention. The kicker of the whole track lies in the fantastically written chorus, the brilliant vocals and its melodic delivery. There are also a number of cool bridge parts where the distorted guitars take centre stage with an interesting stop-start kind of riff. This keeps the song nice and fresh. One of the band’s best singles of 2016.

3. A Bouquet of Hate an Ocean of Questions
‘There’s something about the way you move tonight gliding across the floor like you don’t feel at all. There’s something I need to say, can we move aside? The glass of your eyes shows me you don’t care.’
This is how frontman and left-handed guitarist, Gonzalez, starts this song after one of the best intros in the band’s catalogue is done. The lead guitar work in the intro is unique and a great mix with the distorted rhythm guitar from Zeeman. This number is a real fan favourite and its soft-loud dynamic drives the song to a fitting climax.

2. Tidal Wave
This was Climate Control’s breakthrough hit that really garnered attention and it is easy to see why. The song has a number of brilliant musical elements that form pieces of the pie. The track opens with a guitar intro that is instantly recognisable as it builds up to a mini breakdown that gets the mosh pits going. Du Toit’s drums work brilliantly here as he keeps the tempo before Gonzalez’s vocals kick in. The chorus is where Gonzalez’s vocals reach a new high as he hits some crazy notes – a testament to his voice control as a rock vocalist. The many layers of the song need to be discovered one at a time and should be listened to on repeat to truly understand its complexity. A track that South Africa can be proud of.

1. Little Mess
The newest single from Climate Control, ‘Little Mess’ may be a little softer than their previous material but this definitely does not detract from its quality. The song opens up with Gonzalez singing along with an acoustic clean guitar sound before some synth from Pakathi kicks in. The track then transcends with a melodic guitar riff before the verse gets laid out. The song is about making mistakes and how relationships are affected by them. The accompanying music video also illustrates this perfectly. The lyrics in the chorus spell it out: ‘It is not about what life has done to you. You have made your bed now sleep in it.’
This is one of best lyrics from this band that showcases its melodic side with this track. The musicianship is stellar and its easy listening nature with a heartfelt message makes this song number one, in my opinion.