Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes
Dark Rainbow – International Death Cult/AWAL
It’s been a frantic few years for Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes. They’ve been propelled forwards by the sheer force of nature that Carter has become. The former Gallows frontman has taken his desire to fill that void between punk, indie and rock and moulded it into something quite special. The music has always been full on while the shows, lively to the extreme, have always been places of inclusivity and caring. So it comes as no surprise that there was a need to take a little breather and release something more introspective. That’s where ‘Dark Rainbow’ fits neatly into the picture. This is a showcase for an artist, a writing team, and a band standing in front of a mirror of exploration and writing about what they see. The result is quite wonderful. The first thing that strikes home is the clarity and well honed maturity of the vocals. Frank Carter excels in songs that range from gritty rock to crooner ballads. He imbues each track with the kind of palpable emotion some big hitting pop stars would kill for. The writing is powerful and adventurous with beautiful arrangements that will absolutely slay in a live environment. Complimenting this is the skilful production which cleverly avoids being too slick while remaining tight and crystal clear. ‘Dark Rainbow’ may raise a few eyebrows because it is not the thrasher many would have expected. It does rock out in places but in a way that suits the overall mood. Like many artists that need a change of tack to mature naturally (looking at you BMTH) this is a record that sees Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes progress to a new level.
Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes – Facebook
Review by Gary Trueman