The Wildhearts
The Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts
Snakefarm
Kicking in with a monstrous riff Eventually seems like a straight ahead shouty mosher, until it’s not, it’s a totally Wildhearts chorus then it drifts off into a dreamy haze. This multi layered approach to songwriting is evident throughout this album. It’s a highly technical sounding record with guitarist Ben Marsden thoroughly making his mark in a way, those that know how talented he is, hoped he would. This is a place for Ginger to get a lot off his chest too it would seem, from the vitriolic one-two of Kunse and Maintain Radio Silence to I’ll Be Your Monster, Ginger faces subjects head on with zero compromise. Parts of this album feel almost rock opera and timelessly British it’s got an almost theatrical feel throughout, with Ginger occasionally breaking the fourth walk to talk directly to the listener. The rhythm section of former Cardiacs guitarist Jon Poole on bass and Pontus Snibb (it says here) on drums, power this collection relentlessly and there’s a huge amount of experience on display. The production is hefty and crystal clear and the addition of Carol Hodge on guest vocals brings her awesome sparkle. Closer Failure Is The Mother Of Success signs off this multicolored explosion of a record with the refrain, “You took a lot of knocks to get where you are today “ and I wonder if that’s meant for us or for them. This is an excellent album full stop and definitely more than worthy of a full blast airing from your speakers.
Review by George Miller