Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Dark 
Rainbow (International Death Cult/AWAL)
Release Date: 26th January 2024
I've always had a lot of time for Frank Carter, as a person, but I've never given him and his crew enough time when it comes to their music so I felt like I owed it to him (and myself) to give this new album a good, old fashioned listening to. 'Dark Rainbow' is the fifth album from Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes and we get underway with 'Honey', a song that kicks straight in to action with a Queens of the Stone Age meets Jim Jones energy accompanied by swaggering guitars, grumbling bass and pile driver drums. It's a strong start. 'Man Of The Hour' is an altogether more mellow affair with a moody, late-night vibe that erupts in the chorus as a Killers-esque stadium filler. The organ based mellow vibe continues on 'Can I Take You Home' which swoons in the verse before rocking out in the chorus while 'American Spirit' has all eyes on it as it walks in to the club, clad head to toe in leather and ready to cause a ruckus.
It's an assured and confident sound which makes them sound like a band that should be playing to bigger audiences in a more mainstream arena but maybe that's not what they want or need. 'Happier Days', for example, could be a Royal Blood romp but Frank & Co. are laser focused on their target of rocking out, rocking hard and taking the hardcore along for the ride (the Radio 1 Roadshow, or whatever it's called these days, is not on the agenda). 'Brambles' hums and thrums with a futuristic menace while 'Queen Of Hearts' is a more spacey and atmospheric number that acts as a moment of respite from the intensity. The piano melody on 'Sun Bright Golden Happening' is both beautiful and mournful but 'Superstar' could be a big ol' strutting Muse number, a great example of the mood swings and stylistic flexibility of this album.
Penultimate track 'Self Love' rides high on the production values and alt-pop-rock energy but a special mention should go out to the drum sound on this track as it's as punchy as anything I've heard for some time. Saving the title track for the last number is a classy move so 'A Dark Rainbow' comes in to close the show with a slow dance with the vibe that wouldn't be out of place on a new Arctic Monkeys album. It might only be half way through January but I am putting it out there that this will be a strong contender for album of the year and now I've got a whole back catalogue to explore....which is nice.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/frankcarterandtherattlesnakes
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