Artist: New Model Army
Title: Between Wine And Blood
Genre: Alternative Rock
Release Date: 5th September 2014
Label: Edel
Album Review
Since 1980, Bradford band NEW MODEL ARMY have gradually rooted themselves into the alternative musical landscape like a big, old gnarly tree. Singer Justin Sullivan has growled and snarled his way through each decade like a man who never tires of being angry, with just about everything and everyone. Solid, reliable, dogged occasionally by ploddy workman-like releases, the band are still touring and recording with the energy of men half their age, and that in itself is to be applauded. A recent critical resurgence sees them back in favour, and September sees the release of the mini album ‘Between Wine And Blood’.
‘According To You’ is a decent enough start. Scuzzy guitars give way to a strong melody and a harmonic chorus, but it does feel slightly stuck in the wrong gear. ‘Angry Planet’ is a pacier effort, agitated and irritable, it’s familiar NMA territory, a bad-tempered romp that peaks with a start/ stop chorus of “We just live on an angry planet”. ‘Guessing’ sounds like BILLY BRAGG in about 1985, although it kicks up a storm once it really gets going. There’s still the sense that they have done all this before though, and a deficit of ideas begins to creep in the deeper you get. There’s the shuffling folk of ‘Happy To Be Here’ for example, which sounds like THE LEVELLERS when that band perfectly aped NMA back in the 90’s. And lyrically “Men gone off to foreign wars, to stand beneath the tattered flags…” is just one tired, old cliché too far.
‘Devils Bargain’ at least has some crisp percussion and a synth wash to lead it off, and a strong vocal from Mr Sullivan, sounding like the bizarre marriage between a preachy NICK CAVE and BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. World-weary and evocative, it’s the best song here. Things round off, with the huff and puff of ‘Sunrise’, a mid-paced mini-anthem with a collectively chanted chorus, but its leaden ending leaves it ultimately rather hollow. There’s nothing new here, but then, perhaps that’s rather churlish to a band who have never courted fashion or popularity, and remain steadfast in what they do. It’s just difficult to get excited about it, this big, old gnarly tree perhaps too rooted in the past to have much relevance today.
Tracklist
01. According To You
02. Angry Planet
03. Guessing
04. Happy To Be Here
05. Devils Bargain
06. Sunrise
Line-up
Justin Sullivan
Michael Dean
Dean White
Marshall Gill
Ceri Monger
Website
http://www.newmodelarmy.org / https://www.facebook.com/NewModelArmyOfficial
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 6
Sound: 8
Total: 7 / 10
Comments powered by CComment