That Fucking Tank - A Document Of The Last Set (Gringo
Records)
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| That Fucking Tank - A Document Of The Last Set |
Sometimes a band name can be
enough to make you want to listen to them. Sometimes the song titles are enough
to arouse interest in an album. Sometimes, just sometimes, the two collide and
you can get very excited about an album without hearing a note. The fact that
this band is called That Fucking Tank and this album features a song called
'Bruce Springstonehenge' has got me hooked. Moist and hooked. Oh, and they're a
duo and duos are, like, so 2013.
The introduction to this album is
also an introduction to the band in the form of 'Lovely Lads' that soon gets
barged aside by the gorgeously insistent 'Making A Meal For Beethoven' which
almost has an 80s metal meets grunge feel about it. 'Wonderful World Of' is the
tune Presidents of the USA would have written if they'd ever got really bummed
out and makes perfect use of Andrew Abbott's specially tuned baritone guitar
which comes writhing and growling out of the twin bass and guitar amps. And
then it's time for a deep breath as we approach a song title that even the
Stereophonics might reject because of its sheer size; 'The Rain Travels All The
Way From Siberia And This Is Where It Breaks' is scuzzed up 70s cop show car
chase music and I kinda love it in a one night stand sorta way. 'NWONWOBHM' is
at the other end of the song-title scale for brevity and pure intrigue but oh
my giddy aunt does it have a monster sized riff that Josh Homme and co would
die for!?
Despite starting off like a Ting
Tings song, 'Acid Jam' develops in to a rumbling, throbbing, sex beast of a jam
that you feel should have a broad American accent speaking unnecessarily loudly
over the top of it announcing some sort of prize fighter. That's the thing with
That Fucking Tank, there are no vocals whatsoever to speak of and I'm a little
torn as to whether that's a good thing or not. On the one hand, the tunes stand
up by themselves and are, let's face it, balls to the wall rock'n'roll awesomeness.
On the other hand, stick some good rock screaming on top of this and maybe a
bit of charm and you'd be on to something very special indeed. Listen to the
music and tell me that Andrew W.K., Josh Homme, Alex Turner or Jim Jones
wouldn't sound good on some of these tracks. Anyway, I digress, 'Mr Blood' is
up next with swirling, swooping guitar notes and a skipping rhythm that
promises much and delivers with a stuttering middle eight.
When we finally arrive at the
eagerly anticipated 'Bruce Springstonehenge' we discover it to be a thinly
veiled and heavily distorted use of the Boss' 'Dancing In The Dark' riff. Which
is nice. Swiftly following up is the equally awesome titled pair of songs, 'Dave
Grolsch' and 'Keanu Reef' which continue the theme of scuzzed up guitars, heavy
distortion, big riffs, tight drums and a lack of vocals. I genuinely love the
music on this album and the grooves had me going big time but I'm always
worried with instrumental acts that I would get bored at a live show with nothing
to sing along to. For all I know, That Fucking Tank put on amazing, gravity
defying live shows and I sincerely hope they do because these tunes deserve a
heaving, sweating mass of bodies reacting to every beat and every note forcibly
wrung out of that guiter.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/pages/That-Fucking-Tank/20492435701?fref=ts
Live Dates:
1st November - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds w/Rent Boys