Album Review: Pure Love - Anthems

A collaboration between guitarist Jim Carroll and former Gallows' frontman Frank Carter, Pure Love seem to have left their spark on the floor of one of the dark and sweaty band rooms the pair played in honing these songs live before they headed into the studio as, mostly, Anthems is a letdown.

It's not to begrudge Frank Carter his chance to quit screaming and grow up, but it seems he's also lost that fire and passion that made him pick up the mic in the first place. Maybe it's just teething problems, as some of the live clips that have surfaced seemed to capture a lot more spirit than the album. But whatever the issue, this band needs to get a lot tighter and burn a lot brighter. Where Gallows were dangerous and exhilarating, Pure Love is maudlin and plodding, though Carter's voice makes the transition from screaming to singing quite easily.

There are moments on the new Pure Love album Anthems that give you a hint of how it was supposed to turn out – early singles Handsome Devils Club and Bury My Bones, and the almost title track Anthem in particular. Bury My Bones especially suggests there could be something more to this pairing and that Carter's voice suits anthemic, riff-heavy rockers of the kind that can kickstart a stadium tour.

But it's far too early to write off Pure Love completely and, based on Carter's previous live appearances in this country, there'll be plenty of people checking them out if they ever make it here. But for now, best to stick to the live clips and wait until Pure Love have developed a bit.