“I know it’s hard, but you’ve gotta deal with it”, were the very first lyrics I’d come to hear from a familiarly ear shattering track featuring on Sleigh Bells second studio album, Reign of Terror, and boy, did they seem apt (unfortunately the neighbours don’t seem to fully appreciate, just yet, the explosive electric sound that Sleigh Bells so effortlessly provide us with).
However, irrespective of the abundant complaints I suspected would follow, I, like many others, more than anticipated the comeback of the American noise pop duo. With electrifying riffs and blaring bass yet more melodic than their previous releases, the album opens with tons of volume and a definite plethora of energy.
Previous listeners are once again exposed to hammering guitar centred tunes with what the group’s publicist describes this time round as “the sonic equivalent of a beautiful shotgun to the head”, but there is an evidently more personal and emotional rationale behind the record. As the album continues, ‘Comeback Kid’ gives Krauss, the charismatic female vocalist, a seventies-ensued beauty queen poise, but with an undeniably darker twist as the metal influences on tracks ‘Road to Hell’ and ‘Demons’ become apparent. It’s the distinctly unlikely effectiveness of the contrast between these sugar sweet vocals and brash, stereo explosive beats that really seems to place the album on another even noisier and authoritative level than previously displayed.
So, in the naturally likely case that you’re planning on instigating a huge scale riot or overthrowing the British Government (one can dream) in the near future, I highly suggest a copy of Reign of Terror as an aggression provoking accompaniment. One thing is sure: this follow up album does not lack on the front of providing an overwhelmingly maximised sense of empowerment.
A final word leaves me only to reinforce that I am not at all disappointed by this album, and really quite satisfied by the consistency of the material (a trait which, debatably, I find very rare in albums nowadays).
Discover Sleigh Bells: Official Website // Myspace // Last.fm // Facebook
By Sarah Chandler
Dance Yrself Clean
