In Gold Blood

Albumbeschreibung

Previously the darlings of the Welsh emo-rock scene, Cardiff quintet Kids in Glass Houses faced something of a backlash following 2010's Dirt, a concerted attempt to embrace the mainstream, which, despite or perhaps because of a collaboration with Saturday Frankie Sandford and a string of Radio 1-supported singles, failed to set the charts alight in the Lostprophets-esque manner they might have been expecting. Less than 18 months later, the bandmembers return with their tails between their legs on a much heavier effort, In Gold Blood, which perhaps restores some of the credibility they relinquished in their quest for commercial success. Produced by former A frontman Jason Perry, fast becoming the go-to man for British Kerrang! cover stars, the likes of "Gold Blood," "Black Crush," and "Annie May" revel in a gang mentality, with their thrashing guitars, blistering rhythms, and shouty singalong choruses, while "Not in This World" takes its cue from the U.S. college pop-punk sound that dominated the early noughties. However, while there are no girl band duets this time round, its 11 tracks still provide a few surprises, whether it's the stomping faux-Motown beats and brass band fanfare on "The Florist," the Kasabian-inspired fusion of dirty glam rock riffs, acid-soaked grooves, and snarling Brit-pop vocals on lead single "Animals," or the nods to Bruce Springsteen on the chest-beating stadium rock of "Diamond Days" and the Police on the reggae-tinged rhythms and sax solos of "Fire." However, In Gold Blood never strays too far away from the sound of their toilet-circuit beginnings, and while it's unlikely to increase their crossover appeal, it's a much more authentic and less calculated record that might just win back some of the fans alienated by its predecessor's glossy pop sheen.

© Jon O'Brien /TiVo