Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes
Blossom
Kobalt
Released: 14 August 2015
Review by Alex Sievers
What comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘blossom’? Now, unless you’re some emotionally vapid bastard, it’s most likely one of peaceful calm, of thoughtful serenity, and of change and growth. Well, a wave of peace and calm is not what will wash over you when you hear Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes’ debut record, Blossom, but rather a wave of fuzzy, distorted riffs and brash yelling will engulf your ear holes instead.
The razor-sharp riffs and heavy grooves from The Rattlesnakes makes one concrete backbone for the crazed ex-Gallows ginger that is Mr. Carter to sing, yell and scream over the top of. The raw and distorted vocals of Carter are as intense as one can imagine, and his lyrics ooze aggression and honesty like a politician oozes outright lies.
From the pounding, abrasive introduction to the album that is Juggernaut, to the somewhat low-key, self-explanatory hate fest of album closer I Hate You; this record rarely pulls it punches, if ever. Blossom is ten songs of pure explosive anger and cathartic passion, all wrapped up in a very cool, very chaotic British underground punk rock vibe, and it’s easily one of the surprise hits of 2015.
Seriously, this album should come with a disclaimer: ‘this album is so good it will set fire to speakers, why? Because fucking punk rock, that’s why!’
