Customer Reviews

Royal Society

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

So what exactly would manifest if, say, Nick Cave and Iggy Pop joined together in perfectly nasty rock and roll whoopee? I think the end product would be a little rock and roll devil child known as The Eighties

Matchbox B-Line Disaster. Their place and purpose on this earth is a nasty path walked with a dashingly sinister grin. Start with a delectable serving of twisted bedtime narratives peppered with inspiration from the likes of Brothers Grimm and other gothic ne'er-do-wells, throw in a dash of thrash and slash manic lunacy and you've got the album Royal Society. These fellows aren't trying to be bad, they simply exist on the toxic ingredients with which they were conceived and that's what makes them so incredibly legit.

The album seems to be split like some two-headed serpent slithering up through the bowels of Hades. The first half; crunched and jingly tales of caution and madness dipped in a witch's brew of devil's hymns. But where `The Dancing Girls' creeps to an unsettling close `The Fool' takes over and a second personality takes hold, grinding the psychobilly fanatics of The Cramps through a thrash metal coalition of country fried western and the best of British garage rock. "Give me your heart cuz I feel like the tin man!" Lux Interior would be proud. The songwriting gives the impression these lads put pen to paper in some thick wooded cabin listening to the darkest of Black Sabbath's catalogue. The songs `Puppy Dog Snails' and `Drunk on the Blood' come to mind with their demented

chorus recalling some of the most impish of medieval folklore.

It's an experience that leaves me fascinated by music's versatility and potential. It's hard to describe in words the atomic force behind the mad preacher vocals riding the guitar like a ghostrider tearing straight out of hell. It's a soundtrack for that long infernal drive through Death Valley on a summer day. Pop it in and fly like a bat straight outta hell!

My hands have been nailed to this album for more than a year and the zest hasn't worn. It's time tested and just as exhilarating. Find it somewhere, get it imported, it's a tough one to find but very worth the search. It'll put faith back into the void of great rock and roll acts.

Royal Society comes as a logical step in this band's progression. After blistering debut Horse of the Dog it was always going to be interesting to see how the group would follow up such a convincingly solid debut, never an easy task. The answer is a natural exploration of how the band could expand on their "psychosis rock" sound which is often with what seems a natural maturity and to great effect on songs like "Rise of the Eagles" and "Mister Mental" and at times a little forced and seemingly less focused on numbers like "Puppy Dog Snails" which clumsily trails through an awkward nursery rhyme style song almost parodying themselves in the process. For the few weaker moments though, and there is only a few, the album is a brilliant expansion of the ideas the Eighties' laid down on their debut. Top notch in fact.

Probably the weirdest album Ive heard in a while. But I can't get enough of it. I don't even know how I could describe the music of The 80s Matchbox B-line Disaster. Its rock n roll allright.... but there's something really...uhhh....strange about their sound, it reminds me of a FREAK SHOW at a Circus, know what I mean? No? Well I don't even know it myself. And the LYRICS..."What sould we do with the puppy dog's tail?" How do they COME UP with that stuff. I really want to see this band live, so I hope they'll show up over here maybe later this year.

Basically, this is the best album of 2004. If you like your music loud, weird, creative and addictive, buy this. I'm not gonna even try to describe it. If you own even one album with Mike Patton on it, you need this. Stand-out tracks: Rise of the Eagles, I could be an Angle (yes, it's "angle", not "angel".), Mister Mental, I Rejection, Temple Music, The Way of the Men of the Stuff.

Okay, first things first, this album -great! Much better when you've seen them live and have had eye contact with Guy Mcknight. Twice. That's TWICE!!! One of the reasons I like this album so much may have something to do with that but it is brilliant and it really cheers you up on college days -trust me, I'm in hysterics most mornings on the train. Melodies, rock, v.entertaining lyrics, an extremely low-voiced (yet he can sing really well aswell) lead singer, lots and lots of hair, they have it all and it comes across in this album. Although, if you're looking for something light and happy, they haven't quite figured out how to do that yet. My favourites: I could be an angle -it's really funny, like Guy's eyes!!! And it has great guitar parts, perfect for the moshpit. Rise of the eagles: This is even funnier to sing along to at the train station, especially the chorus. Temple Music: Guy's learnt how to sing! I love the tune and it won't go away...The Fool: Let's just say I'm learning the guitar again. I like it. I'm going to listen to it again.