GONE FERAL - UNLEASHED

As the e-mail service does what it does I receive nudges from all manner of sonic dealers - I can only do so much.  I am now at a stage where I have to pick and choose as I have done over 1800 CD reviews and I am lug-buggered, guilty of having heard too much and perhaps in danger of acoustically overdosing in too many similar realms.  I play, consider and then pass or process - I liked this one from the off, a review seemed ready to spill, and spill it duly did.  

Again, I know fuck all as regards the band, I did pilfer the following info from Facefuck - 'New wave punk echoes from a time of better music with a stomping rock twist and a cheeky disco beat. Based in the UK'.  This is enough, and I can do what I do hopefully, untainted.

'Why Should I Care' is a fuckin' banger that doth drop no clanger.  The weight of the weaponry, the choice femme-fury throat attack and the general heavy-duty force of matters is mightily impressive and played without leaving me time to settle and survey.  The blend of all components is immaculate, the louder one plays the one realises we are in the midst of inescapable tonal talons and the thought of being utterly shredded is no bad things.  A power-laden beast with a watertight delivery that radiates defiance and hope.  What an outrageously good start - I am already salivating for more. I expect the second track to be a let-down, not so - 'Doggerel' is a beauty with a great swing in the hips and a real connecting vibe.  The vocal style hits the spot (when these lasses get it right they can't be beat) and the back racket is utterly bang on and gives the throat donator a great stage on which to shine. This is a collaborative effort though and drums, bass, guitar - all combine with great effect and make for a dramatic and fluent bout of good racket engineering - what a combo!

Third up, ‘Change’ - the accelerator stress is eased, we have a more simplistic song but man the way it prowls and predates your inner resistance is both sublime and astoundingly impressive.  The band know what they are trying to do, the production values are at a mesmerising zenith and those glass light tones that shimmer and glimmer with life-affirming animation give this track a real flavour boost.  Is this my fave track so far, no way!  Why - because I fuckin' love this opening hat-trick in equal measure and each track compliments the others with unquestionable certainly.

Further into the mush I go - 'Beetroot' survives on bass, tympanics and mouth as well as a great spartan accent before threat, malevolence and determination take the reins and the guitar jumps in and sets the scene ablaze.  No great pace is injected but it doesn't need to be - there is a predator at work here, a huntress on the look for a likely victim.  There is a vital essence of something 'Iggified' here, a dog that wants to be yours, transformed into a jowl-juiced jaguar that will not take 'no' as an answer.  A very sable promise from the depths of DIY desire where many will be hypnotised and consumed.  Another superb inclusion and taking us into 'Irrelevance' with just aplomb.  This latest track pounds in with a routine stick rhythm before sharded strings add texture and the banshee bails out her now recognisable tonsil tones.  I am unsure by the opening throes but soon dragged back to the realms of highly convincing rhythm by an exciting attack of 'get off yer arse' warning.  All silence is damned into oblivion as the soundscape is saturated by a song laden with the fear of not doing enough whilst the cruel hands of Father Time pilfer.  Despite the terror there is a relaxed interlude of guitar wanking exhibitionism that makes sure the flow  continues, we return to stage zero and come full circle - crafty.

'Smack And Crack' ups the warble factor, blurs the line between reality and fantasy whilst upholding a perilous edge to the entire shebang.  This is the most 'off the leash' track so far and walks a very precarious line between the stable and the uncontrolled.  A spit-soaked, nasty bastard essence comes with an almost suicidal abandonment always lurking in the shadows.  I remain enthused, intrigued but, also at this stage, on the edge of my rickety seat.  Music is always better when trust is trashed - watch yourselves folks, this is sneaky sonica liable to push you over the brink - yippee.  

Into the last quartet, 'Lamb Rock' has a real orthodox feel, ticks many obvious boxes and has many inklings of old-school punk and, may I add, gentler rock.  This is a recipe made to invoke the wrath of the Fungal boot (a kind kick never did anyone any harm) but again I am forced to submit to the demands of my honest ethos and hail this as another enjoyable, healthy and kicking tune with yet more sublime threat.  Yes - I have heard it all before and recognise many of he touches but man, this creation is a job done well and brings a smile to my face yet again.  Applause, applause - hitch up your draws - there are still 3 numbers left.  

I am all ears when I listen to 'Eyes' and am expectant of the same standard that has gobsmacked me thus far.  hesitant bass, a Pasti-esque strum, and then the waltz begins.  Metronomic beats dictate, statements are laid down, a submission comes.  A slow creeper this with no unnecessary bangles or bollocks dangled just for the hell of it.  Power still reigns supreme, a tight stranglehold number that bends down, bends backwards and still has an irresistible strength.  This is almost like a sanguine laden pose-down - with all muscles flexed and showcased for those already smitten - and now my peepers are all agog too.  'Bully' is a bout of defiance, a foot-planted effort that will not be broken.  This is now par for the course music which all sounds quite negative but... it isn't.  The course traversed is of a high standard and to stick to the tonal territory trespassed is no mean feat - the band do it with aplomb.  This is a cementing layer between hefty bricks of immovable density and the more I play it the more I appreciate.  One to stick with and apply a little more cranial effort with - it is very much worth the concentration.  Compact, leak-proof and as tight as a gnat’s chuff.

'Rochambeau' brings matters to their conclusion and is, I personally think, the most complex, erudite and challenging track on the CD.  A veritable grower that doesn't have the initial impact of its counterparts but one which grows from a cauldron of suffering mixed-up love and rises to become something firm, tangible and wholeheartedly passionate.  The sober start, the rising emotion and the sub-skank essences all make for a piece to toss around the palate whilst in a seriously contemplative mood.  This is a punctuation mark to a very bold statement that is the bands first album - they have set a very lofty standard.

I sign off, I have the first major contender for 'Album of the Year' - it really is a mighty affair that has many layers and is mixed and presented to an exacting standard.  I said 'wow' earlier in the review. I repeat 'wow, wow and fuckin' wow'!