Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - End of Suffering
Formed in 2015, this is the third album from Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes. I’ll admit that I am familiar with Carter’s work with Gallows but, somehow, the Rattlesnakes had passed me by. For some reason I was expecting raging hardcore in the style of Gallows. This certainly ain't that. It is big, anthemic rock, with one foot in DIY punk and one foot in the megastadia of the world. And it somehow works.
For the first couple of minutes or so, opener Why A Butterfly Can’t Love A Spider comes on like Chris Isaak meets QOTSA before turning into raging - if melodic - hardcore and it is BRILLIANT. Tyrant Lizard King takes a similar path, albeit with another dose of desert rock. Crowbar hints at the sludge metallers of that name, albeit on speed. It isn't all so great, however. Some of the later tracks might best be described as plodders. For all the heartfelt - and, frankly great - lyrics, some great playing and big choruses, at times there is a lack of urgency and energy and enthusiasm.
All in all, this is a decent, if not truly great, album. The best songs would make a cracking EP and even the less exciting songs are listenable. I was just expecting more.
6/10
