So Gallows frontman Frank Carter has left the band. Kind of a bummer, but there you go. No need to sulk, as I'm sure his new band Pure Love will be alright.
And we'll always have Grey Britain, won't we? About 18 months ago I declared it the 8th best album of 2009, and that opinion still stands. I'll just copy and paste that post, cause it was the shit:
Gallows' 2007 debut Orchestra Of Wolves did absolutely nothing for me. Disjointed songs that went in many different directions, none of which were very satisfactory. Run of the mill screamo-ish punk largely devoid of hooks, air guitar-worthy riffs or anything even remotely memorable.
Grey Britain also took a few listens to strike a chord with me, but I cannot but admit what a masterpiece it truly is. I've been an anglophile for as long as I can remember, and as much as I loved Britpop I must say it's quite refreshing to finally hear its complete antithesis. Grey Britain is The Sex Pistols' God Save The Queen distilled and filtered through thirty years of discontent and misanthropy.
Listening to it I can't help but see images of every loveable/loathsome British stereotype I can think of. Cockney dock workers having a stout and some toad in the hole at the local greasy spoon, people who spend more money on football tickets than dentistry, fat jaded couples in their 60s who think going to Blackpool over the weekend and eating fish 'n chips with way too much vinegar on a rocky beach ignoring each other for two days counts as going on holiday.
It's also intestering that it points the finger of blame inwards, not at the people in power. It's not the politicians' fault we're in this shit, we brought this on ourselves by not doing enough to stop them, by not caring enough. Grey Britain wants to be a call to arms to inspire people to snap out of their apathy and sort everything out, but it knows it's too far gone and the hopelessness never ceases to shine through. I'm sure that's something we can all relate to in one way or another, British or not.
But apart from the nihilism of its theme and its lyrics, the album is a triumph musically - it's all the best components from punk, hardcore, rock and metal crammed into one cd. All four genres constantly wrestle and fight to get in the front and the result is at times downright exhausting.
Still can't fucking stand Orchestra Of Wolves though.
(mp3) Gallows - Graves
Available on Grey Britain (2009)
And here's a fine documentary showing just how difficult Frank will be to replace:
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