The
Living End's new album is chock full of "hits" and energy. Sometimes
an artist suddenly finds another gear, and this album is like that.
It leaves their last record 'Modern Artillery' way behind. That
was the "comeback" album after the car accident that sidelined leader
Chris Cheney. That was the album that introduced the band's new
line-up, with Andy Strachan on drums. That was the album where the
band flexed its muscles within the mainstream after bursting through
the door from outside with their rockabilly punk attack. We now
see that was probably the album Living End had to make, because
now they've made this giant leap on almost every level - songwriting,
execution, and most of all "spirit". It would be too easy to attribute
the difference to their return to Nick Launay, producer of the breakthough
album 'Roll On'. The band has also spent all that time between albums
bedding in the new line-up, re-establishing its love for live performing.
'State Of Emergency' is the sound a great live band delivering in
the studio. And then there's Chris Cheney's songwriting. That's
something that's always been there, the thing that made their unusual
instrumentation more than a flash in the pan. With every album the
songs just get better and better. Full of melodic fire, instant
appeal, and the real pay-off, something to say. I can't think of
a current band that's better at the working class social commentary
anthem. Not since Midnight Oil (another Launay client). On the belting
'Nothing Lasts' they even sound a bit like the Oils, which sits
a lot better than the AC/DC and Cold Chisel colours that came through
on 'Modern Artillery'. There's ever a touch of the Pink Floyd's
'Another Brick In The Wall' about the kids voices on 'Wake Up'.
It all works beautifully. 'State Of Emergency' is a wild intelligent
romp. - Ed.Nimmervoll
The
Living End's new album is chock full of "hits" and energy. Sometimes
an artist suddenly finds another gear, and this album is like that.
It leaves their last record 'Modern Artillery' way behind. That
was the "comeback" album after the car accident that sidelined leader
Chris Cheney. That was the album that introduced the band's new
line-up, with Andy Strachan on drums. That was the album where the
band flexed its muscles within the mainstream after bursting through
the door from outside with their rockabilly punk attack. We now
see that was probably the album Living End had to make, because
now they've made this giant leap on almost every level - songwriting,
execution, and most of all "spirit". It would be too easy to attribute
the difference to their return to Nick Launay, producer of the breakthough
album 'Roll On'. The band has also spent all that time between albums
bedding in the new line-up, re-establishing its love for live performing.
'State Of Emergency' is the sound a great live band delivering in
the studio. And then there's Chris Cheney's songwriting. That's
something that's always been there, the thing that made their unusual
instrumentation more than a flash in the pan. With every album the
songs just get better and better. Full of melodic fire, instant
appeal, and the real pay-off, something to say. I can't think of
a current band that's better at the working class social commentary
anthem. Not since Midnight Oil (another Launay client). On the belting
'Nothing Lasts' they even sound a bit like the Oils, which sits
a lot better than the AC/DC and Cold Chisel colours that came through
on 'Modern Artillery'. There's ever a touch of the Pink Floyd's
'Another Brick In The Wall' about the kids voices on 'Wake Up'.
It all works beautifully. 'State Of Emergency' is a wild intelligent
romp. - Ed.Nimmervoll