It’s been many years since Frank Carter stood as the frontman for iconic British punk band Gallows. In the years since, we’ve seen him dive into tattooing and front the alt-rock band Pure Love. Now Carter has returned with a backing band called The Rattlesnakes to unleash some more havoc into the world.
Fans of Carter’s previous projects will find that Blossom slots in nicely between Gallows and Pure Love. The Rattlesnakes keep things heavy, but it’s not as intense as the hardcore style of Gallows. There are a number of relatively softer moments, like the bluesy opening to I Hate You, but it soon explodes with big riffs and punch-the-floor breakdowns.
The focus of the album is, of course, Frank Carter. He howls with a furious passion on every song, taking breaks in between lines to gasp for air before delivering the next blow. Unfortunately, several songs feature a distracting overdriven vocal effect, which nearly always works to the detriment of the song. It’s perplexing to think that there was someone who thought his unfiltered vocal takes weren’t intense enough to begin with.
But despite the weird production choices, Carter is back in the saddle with an album that connects with a big right hook.
BY SPENCER SCOTT
