Album Review: !!! - THR!!!ER

Californian goofballs !!! (chk chk chk) have received criticism since releasing their fifth studio album Thr!!!er for not pushing the envelope in terms of lyrical content the way they did in their preceding work. While it's true they seem to have settled solidly in the dance side of their previously dance-punk style, it doesn't mean they've lost the magic which made their music so captivating in the first place, which is found primarily in their lengthy, tripped out instrumental jams and their highly unique and interesting sounds. 

Thr!!!er kicks off with Even When The Water's Cold, which has a funky, '70s inspired bass line with echoing synth layered over the top, creating an appropriate feeling of fluidity. The '70s can also be heard in One Boy/One Girl; a highly danceable and playful track, while Fine Fine Fine leans more towards '80s glam-pop. Lead single Slyd,might remind fans of !!!'s early work, with its dark, grungey and sexy bass, however, the best bass contribution of the album is found on Except Death – if the instrumental jams are what you love about !!!, look no further than this track. The bass solo which kicks in at about two minutes and 40 seconds is utterly mesmerising and proves quite impossible not to groove along to in some way. It's arguably the highlight of the entire album.

It could be said that !!!'s previous works were sitting at a fork in the road, with the choice to go one of two ways, and they've unashamedly chosen the dance road for Thr!!!er, backing up their decision with a heightened level of refinement and consideration.