Album Review: Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - 'End Of Suffering'
‘Blossom’ was a rough and angry punk record, ‘Modern Ruin’ was a modern classic that changed The Rattlesnakes’ sound and they have done it once again with their latest release "End Of Suffering."
“Why A Butterfly Can’t Love A Spider” is an opener to set the tone for what the rest of the album. If you were expecting an album of pure punk anger in a similar vein to the first release "Blossom" you would be sorely mistaken. Although "End Of Suffering" does occasionally venture into similar territory, “End Of Suffering” steers more closely to an indie side of affairs and it thrives in it. The second track of "End Of Suffering" is "Tyrant Lizard King" (featuring Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello.) “ Tyrant Lizard King” is the song that is closest to that of the old Rattlesnakes with a chorus which is easy to scream along to whilst getting shoved and mauled back and forth in the pit of a dark, grungy and run down music venue. "Tyrant Lizard King" is a less angry but more catchy "Juggernaut" from "Blossom" and it's utterly glorious. “Kitty Sucker” follows a similar path in being close to the previous work of The Rattlesnakes and continues to show Frank is a “Punk rock renegade” who doesn’t conform to what stereotypical punk artists can be. The so far excellent form of "End of Suffering" continues with future chart hitter "Heartbreaker." A furiously fast-paced start with vocals that will be stuck in your head for weeks to come, leading up to a drop in pace with beautifully sung words speaking of love, passion and change before dropping back into the chaos which Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes have become so famous for.
The first song released to the world from "End of suffering" was the 4th track of the album and it's called "Crowbar". This is an emotionally charged, barnstormer of a track. It does not allow you to rest for one second and that's one of the many reasons why I love The Rattlesnakes, they are non stop energy and passion, something that anyone who has seen them live can attest to as well. "Crowbar" is all about not conforming to society, not being a sheep and being who you want to be in life, demanding when life or people try to put you in a box "go and get the fucking crowbar." As the track continues it leans more to the previous album's (Modern Ruin) style of music with 'Vampires' being the most similar past Rattlesnakes song to date but overall this is a new Rattlesnakes. 'Crowbar' is a Rattlesnakes track that merges the best bits of the first album Blossom, an album that will kick your front door in, jump on your table and declare "It's here to stay", with the best bits of Modern Ruin, a beautiful album which has killer vocals and deadly backing tracks. 'Crowbar' truly hits every base for the home run and is one of the best Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes songs to date.
The indie pace returns with the track "Love Games." "Love Games" is radically different from what people have to come to expect from The Rattlesnakes and is closer to legends of the game Kasabian. The powerful vocals provided by Frank Carter are in that similar vein to that of Sam Smith, it's incredibly impressive. "Anxiety" is next up and is by far and away the most important song on the record in terms of the message it provides. Frank opens up for the world to see his own personal demons in slow-paced, emotional heart string puller of a track. Frank proudly preaches about "a better place for you and me, where we can be happy." Showing strength in vulnerability and in turn creating a song of emotion, power and pride. The album ends with the title track "End Of Suffering" and if you can listen to this song with a dry eye you are a whole lot tougher than me. A song declaring Frank's love for his daughter Mercy Rose, lyrically stunning "End Of Suffering" ends with the lyrics "your happiness will be the end of suffering" and voice clips of Frank and his daughter joyfully playing together and thus her happiness has brought an end to "End Of Suffering." I'm not crying, you're crying.
Overall Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes third effort "End Of Suffering" is vastly different to the previous records with some slight memories of them but this Rattlesnake has shed its skin and has ultimately become more diverse, more beautiful and stronger.
Words by Alfie Drake