When Savages initially arrived, they asserted themselves as leaders, not followers. Defiant, dark and uncompromising, their debut Silence Yourself was one of the most intriguing and worthwhile rock albums of 2013. They’ve not rested on their laurels since – delivering a ten-minute single, Fuckers, and a perfectly-noisy collaborative effort with Bo Ningen – and Adore Life looks to further propel the post-punk outfit’s momentum.
It charges out of the gate with one of Savages’ heaviest songs to date, The Answer, sporting a down-tuned riff worthy of the most blazed-out stoner metal band. Perhaps The Answer’s most exciting aspect is its thirst to venture into new territory, keeping Savages’ sound one that’s fearlessly dark and rooted in knife-edge intensity. This is where Adore Life thrives. Whether it’s the slow-dance turned scorched earth balladry of Adore or the steely slither of T.I.W.Y.G., Savages are at their best when they’re innovating and exploring.
The album is tripped up by cuts that miss the mark, such as the plodding Slowing Down the World and the by-numbers Surrender; but this thankfully doesn’t demerit the record as a whole. There are a lot of positives to Adore Life – ironic, maybe, given its bleak overtones, but the point stands.
BY DAVID JAMES YOUNG
