The Sleeping Souls
Just Before The World Starts Burning – Xtra Mile Recordings
After years operating as Frank Turner’s bandmates, The Sleeping Souls finally take centre stage to release an album all their very own. The first thing to note about Just Before The World Starts Burning is its timeless quality, at once futuristic and familiar, it seems to emanate from some otherworldly dimension. Joined by former member Cahir O’Doherty (who also acts as chief lyricist) the band have found their own groove and formulated a sound that exists somewhere betwixt Radiohead and Hot Snakes, and subsequently it veers between all out thrashers (‘Scared Of Living’) and the more sedate (‘Weathering The Storm’) but this album works best when they up the ante and throw off the shackles to deliver raucous rockers such as ‘Rivals’. Nevertheless, whatever speed The Sleeping Souls operate, it’s safe to say they’ve developed a signature sound and that which is pouring from my speakers could belong to no one but themselves. Frank Turner is known for his insane work ethic so I hope the band have time to really promote this album; as humanity continues to teeter on the precipice of global conflict, it’s a record that deserves to be heard and especially…Just Before The World Starts Burning.
Review by Peter Dennis