Album Review: Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes - 'Dark Rainbow'
Captivating, unmissable and fully-loaded: Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes unleash the epic new album ‘Dark Rainbow’.
After taking the UK punk scene by storm back in 2015 when they arrived, Frank carter and co. have gone from strength to strength. Over the years, they’ve built a strong following on the back of a series of phenomenal records, leading them to where they are currently.
Front-man Frank Carter and guitarist Dean Richardson have taken a moment with their latest LP to look back, revisit ideas and freshen things up. Richardson has stated that: “Some songs [On Dark Rainbow] are old ideas reworked, fresh eyes on something that didn’t quite fit on other records.”
Fans will be glad to know that the outfit haven’t forgotten these songs, for they make up what is truly a stunning record in ‘Dark Rainbow.’
Proceedings are kicked off with ‘Honey’. It acts as the ultimate reintroduction into the world of the group. It’s gripping from the get-go, both lyrically and musically. Carter is his usual captivating self, with a display of impressive vocals early on. The rest of the group work together to give listeners explosive choruses, followed by carefully suspenseful sections, including a killer riff by Richardson which circles, snake-like, around Carter’s words “I ain’t here to be conquered, I ain’t here to be defeated”, before erupting once more in beautiful chaos. It’s the ultimate track for live shows, enticing listeners into the snake-pit.
Immediately following the opener is ‘Man of the Hour’. Having been a single ahead of the record, listeners will be used to this one, and will be glad to hear it in its right place on the record. This one is a triumphant number that really shows off the band.
Throughout the record, it feels abundantly clear that this time round, Frank Carter-as a song writer- is extremely self-aware and reflectional. He said that “I’m just witnessing the world change so quickly around me and I’m still trying to come to terms with who I am and what the authentic version of me is. By giving people what I thought they wanted I think I got further and further away from who I actually am.” Fans of his work will be thrilled to learn that the epic showman has reflected on this and focussed on who he really is, since it truly has laid the foundations for an incredible body of work in the form of this record.
One track which feels hugely linked to this period of reflection is ‘American Spirit’. For the most part, the song is a big number, with huge guitar riffs and lyrics about partying. Towards the closure, though, it slows right down to the point where it’s just Carter, a piano, and the audience. He gifts fans a beautiful display here, singing in such a pure way that will hook listeners. Just as the listeners are gripped, the track explodes once more, in such cool fashion. There’s a real swagger. Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes are at the peak of their powers here. ‘American Spirit’ is the ultimate track, encompassing a variety of styles and sounds.
Known for their unmissable live performances, the outfit will surely unleash some of their fresh material as they look forward to a busy touring schedule that sees them take on vast parts of Europe. Some tracks on the record feel almost tailor made for live shows. One of these is ‘Brambles’, which finds itself situated in the mid-section of the album. It’s suspenseful from the off, with Carter showing off some haunting vocals, backed by a thudding base. As the initial verse progresses, guitar is added, and the layers make things all the more exciting. It’s unmissable, and listeners will be hooked from the off. This one seems destined for the big stages, as it shows off a really cool, mysterious side to the outfit. It also has the trademark FC stamp, though, as it erupts just when things seem to be cooling down. Crunchy guitars dominate the closure, before almost gospel singing takes over. It concludes with a blend of mysterious vocals and classic guitar sounds.
Carter and Richardson have explained that the recording process of their fifth studio record was different to past experiences, recording it in various studios with multiple different eyes and ears helping to shape it. This has made for an eclectic record which is pure, versatile and quite-frankly incredible.
The tail end of ‘Dark Rainbow’ continues Carter’s reflectional theme. The titular track finds itself as the ultimate number of the record. It’s yet another musical journey that is perfectly paced. It builds gradually to a climactic section, showing off some stunning vocals executed by Carter. He sings passionately “I’ve been high, I’ve been low, I’ve crashed and burned in a dark rainbow”. The track slows down, builds up again and keeps listeners hooked right to the last second. Stunning.
With that, ‘Dark Rainbow’ is concluded. A truly wowing body of work which explores new sides to Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, fans will be eager to hear it live as the band embark on an acoustic mini-tour, followed by full on shows later in the year.
Words by Matthew Caslin
