Drenge
Undertow
April 6 2015 (Infectious)
8/10
Words: Alison Mack
'Difficult' second album time for the ex-Derbyshire Loveless duo, now trio, following their 2013 self-titled debut that wreaked of thrilling frustration, adolescent rage and as much full velocity excitement from a first outing as one could wish.
With this work, produced once again in collaboration with Ross Orton (Arctic Monkeys), while the fire is still stoked, the fuel is channelled in as much of a classic rock territory, as garage rock. Not as raw as 'Drenge', its more carefully orchestrated direction will still undoubtedly appease fans in showing that the handy are still a force to be reckoned with.
Standout tracks such as ‘The Woods’ - with a guitar solo and even time for Eoin Loveless to get in some Biblical quoting (“Lead us not into temptation/ but deliver us from evil”) and the sneering punk veneer of 'Favourite Son' ("I wanna be hugged and I wanna be kissed / I don't wanna be fucked I just wanna be his") - both this and the guitar chugging 'We Can Do What We Want' echoing to strains of Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster - and the slower tempo'd 'Standing In The Cold', demonstrate a band without doubt in touch with the flow.
Crunchy guitar riffs ('Running Wild'), the depth of Rob Graham's - ex-Wet Nuns) bass (‘The Snake’), Rory Loveless' driven drums ('Side By Side'), all indicate their growing confidence and of attempting to introduce newer aspects into their sound.
Overall, 'Undertow' is a more produced and calculated affair, than dangerous and unpredictable. Perhaps it's a sign Drenge are drawing into the grunge godfather role and handing over the unwieldy elements to the likes of upstarts Royal Blood and Slaves.
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