Death Rattle
– In Shade (Limb Records)
LP/DL
Out Now
Apocalyptical
alternative pop duo release their debut album.
London’s
Death Rattle have an interesting sound which borders on many styles and finally
rests on one that they seem to have made their own. A brand of dark, alternative pop with catchy choruses
and unusual soundscapes often littered with impressive percussion breaks and
guitar gnarls.
Opening with
Shade, this is maybe what Savages would sound like if they had opted for synthesizers
instead of guitars. A lone bass line
begins with Helen Hamilton’s accomplished vocals give an infectious start with
a gentle drum sound. The track builds
and progresses into an impressive start to the album and closing screeching
feedback only adds to the drama.
Situate
begins with a Led Zeppelin like riff before being overplayed by a simple electronic
melody. The hard riff continues to make
appearances and again the vocals are clear and powerful. The duo is completed
by another Hamilton - Chris (presumably related) - who provides some chilling
instrumentation.
Recent
single Weak Joints has another throbbing bass and has some great synth effects
and sounds. Complimented by more rolling
drum sounds and a chant which is hard to forget, it is very easy to see the duo
attracting wider appeal. Think along the
lines of a less commercial Lorde and look at the success she has achieved.
After the
opening three tracks, the album takes a less harsh approach and maybe becomes slightly
poppy. It’s not a bad thing but the
sound is far more common and the edge is taken away from Death Rattle. For instance,
another recent single Wait lacks punch and to be frank is just an ordinary
tune. Sure, the clinical gravel sound is
still there but it’s tame and not as brave as its predecessors.
The less
adventurous approach is also repeated for Shell and Safe Waters and had it not
been for the intriguing start to the album, it could well have faded into
obscurity. Only on Take Down and Exhale
does the original inventiveness come back the fore, and dark brooding pop is
the order of the day again. Exhale in
particular broods between catchy pop and an apocalyptical combination, and
another impressive guitar lick adds power and menace.
Album
closer, Fortress inspires a bleak soundscape as a tale of Stockholm Syndrome
unfolds. It’s dark, it’s gloomy and it’s
rather wonderful as its dramatic sound unfolds and menacingly rises to a
tumultuous finale. Death Rattle hold
promise and lots of it. There’s
potentially something very special about them and could be signs of big things
to come.
8/10
Links
Published on Louder Than War 3/12/14 - here
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