Reviews / Album

This is an evocative showcase of Fite’s talent, pushed beyond mediocre by his skill in mixing and arranging

...but School Of Seven Bells have finally nailed it. They’ve gone and made the album they’ve been aiming for since day one.

The album is musically and thematically repetitive. Upbeat pop-rock tracks glazed with the ethereal vocals of Nouvion

The best track is the infectious bounce of Default, incorporating a mutant riff that sounds like Josh Homme jamming with Fatboy Slim.

The US death metal institution is in ferocious form again and although Torture isn’t a classic, there’s no shortage of aggression or intent, even after two decades-plus.

This record was written when Hunx (who really is a hairdresser) fell on some rough times yet the music is so jaunty it’s a little hard to believe.

...but the true strength of Samson’s songwriting, while tuneful and at times even hook-laden, lies primarily in his lyrics.

A generic split between electronic-driven pop-punk and breakdown-filled hardcore.

In fact, the whole record has an air of unpretentious cool to it.

The band move up a level with a few small speed bumps.