In 2013, some knee-jerk music commentators bequeathed then-19-year-old Jake Bugg as the “saviour of British Rock and Roll”. This is puzzling for two reasons. Frost of all I'm quite sure that British Rock and Roll never asked to be (nor even needed to be) saved. Secondly, even it did it would be far better served seeking salvation in Southampton's Band of Skulls. This trio burst onto the scene in 2009, backed up by the hit single 'I Know What I Am'. Their excellent second album Sweet Sour saw the light of day in 2011 but was woefully overlooked by many. Now in 2014 Band of Skulls are back again with what might well be their masterpiece, Himalayan. It is a dense, knotty collection of tunes – a complex thrill ride that adds up to far more than the some of its admittedly brilliant parts.
If you are so inclined you can look for
similarities to a number of different artists buried inside
Himalayan. There are traces elements of Black Keys, Oasis,
Dead Weather, The Beatles, Radiohead, Garbage, Weezer, and plenty
more if you are determined to find them. It is to their credit then
that they can evoke the ghosts of these disparate influences while
still sounding exactly like themselves. Ultimately these different
strands of tone and genre are built upon a skeleton of classic rock
worship. There are moments in 'I Feel Like Ten Men, Nine Dead and One
Dying' and lead single 'Asleep at the Wheel' that might leave you
wondering which time period you have found yourself in. After all,
ballsy guitar worship is ever so uncool in 2014 and there are no bass
drops in sight.
Sometimes just as you turn a corner the
mood will shift dramatically. The aching beauty of 'Cold Sweat' is
couched not only in the plaintive vocals of Emma Richardson but also
in caked-on layers of reverb and bursts of cathartic noise. It is the
album's emotional highpoint – a bold statement to remind us that
this is a group to be taken seriously. But on the other hand Band of
Skulls clearly haven't forgotten the first rule of being in a rock
and roll band: it's ok to be deep (in fact it helps) but don't let it
get in the way of being fun. 'Hoochie Coo' and 'Brothers and Sisters'
are great examples of the band showcasing their caliber while still
making incomparably awesome party music. Needless to say that
Himalayan is all about contrasts and comparisons.
What you have here is a statement of
pure vitality. Band of Skulls are a powerful (if under-appreciated)
band working their hardest to carve themselves out a piece of the
pie and make a name for themselves. From start to finish this is an engaging, enthralling album
the likes of which have become increasingly hard to find in this day
and age. It is defiant, fearless, and uncompromising in all the right
ways. If only all rock bands nowadays could put out music of this
quality then rock and roll wouldn't ever need saving, not that it
actually asked to be saved of course.
Rating: A
Recommended tracks: Himalayan, Cold
Sweat, I Feel Like Ten Men Nine Dead and One Dying
