Labels: BYO
Review by: Andy Malcolm
Well, it’s the first L’face full length in goodness knows how long. So there is naturally going to be a lot of expectations attached to this one. Have they decided to:
a) Take the instrumental route?
b) Incorporate keyboards and jump on the new wave bandwagon?
c) Become a 5th rate 4th generation emo band?
d) Support Newcastle?
e) Make another LP packed from one end to the other with great rock music?
Did you say E? Of course. None of the others would make sense. Can you imagine instrumental Leatherface? With keyboards? 4th generation emo? Frankie’s lyrics have long been far more wrought with emotion than most stuff pumped out of that ill mess these days. And as for supporting Newcastle…
So yes, it’s top notch, mid-to fast paced melodic punk. All brewed to knock your socks off and keep your toes tapping, whilst Frankie rasps out his words in that time honoured “I had my vocal chords sand papered daily from an early age” style. Classics to be heard on here, are the massively tuneful and catchy “Evo Pop”, where the guitars dual and gallop a long, “Grip”, which sees drummer Leighton takes over on “singing” and does a remarkably fine job, and the nitro driven “Lorrydrivers Son” simply blasts a long. They do a cover of “True Colours” which isn’t too bad, and there is a nice piano piece on “Ship Song”, which develops into something rather fantastic indeed.
So they might only have 2 long standing members in the band any more, but it’s still obviously Leatherface. I can’t see many better punk rock records being released this year (Dillinger 4, Fay Wray, that’s about it really), so if you’re able to cope with Frankie’s style of ‘singing’ then there is not a single reason to avoid buying it. Eh!