Pure Reason Revolution - Hammer And Anvil (Album Review)
Thursday, 04 November 2010
Written by Steve Wellman
Pure Reason Revolution claim to be proof that a band can be influenced by ELO, Smashing Pumpkins, Soulwax, Depeche Mode and The Beach Boys all at once, despite sounding nothing like them. This is evident within the album ‘Hammer and Anvil’ which features a constant combination of electro-pop and rock guitar riffs throughout.
The band prides themselves on their live performances which, when hearing the album, is backed up by some tracks that would sounds amazing when played live . They have been on tour with the likes of Mew, Porcupine Tree, Secret Machines and Editors with their sound being very similar to such bands.
The album starts off in typical rock fashion with a huge, manic guitar riff on the song ‘Fight Fire’. The song in itself is rather underwhelming and seems like a statement from the band to get your attention from the very start. There are good parts but they don’t seem to fit in with the rest of the song.
The next track, ‘Black Mourning’, displays better song writing from the four-piece with the male vocals captivating you in a weird trance. The riffs are a lot simpler and doesn’t tend to overload the listener with too much guitar but cuts them down into a more digestible size whilst still having that rock guitar element. A much better track compared to the first.
‘Patriarch’ is the third track and I starts with very disparate male vocals similar to an Evanescence track and then picks up into a similar vibe than ‘Black Mourning’ but is a lot longer and more epic sounding. This is a track that I imagine would sound great at a packed gig venue with everyone swaying and moving to the mesmerising keys and guitar sounds that the band creates.
The next song displays a more experimental side to the band with the track ‘Last Man, Last Round’. It is a bit more left field but is definitely a highlight from the album. It effortlessly slides from the eerie sounds from the keyboards and synths to the big guitar riffs that have been established as a main theme throughout the album so far.
The experimental side of Pure Lost Revolution evolves a step further in the track ‘Valour’ with more quirky synth sounds established from the start. It has a heavier feel with a slightly darker tone with the guitars but the vocals remain the same which is the only theme that stays the same throughout the whole of the album as the disparate vocals of Jon Courtney and Chloe Alper which combine to create a wonderful sound. However, every song sounds completely different to the last which fails to create an identity within the band, what is the PRR sound? It’s not too clear.
The album continues with heavy guitar riff filled tracks such as ‘Over The Top’ and ‘Never Divide’ but another different genre track comes to light in ‘Blitzkrieg’. It displays a more patient build up with many electro synth sounds looping together to create a captivating vibe. The track is also mainly instrumental with the first vocals coming 3 and a half minutes in with the track taking a turn into a piano led ballad with the male vocals are filled with plenty of emotion. This track is definitely a highlight from the album with it displaying many of the bands talents as not just great instrumentalists but great experimentalists as well as showing they are not afraid to try new things with their music.
Next is the 7 minute ‘Open Insurrection’ with epic sounds stamped all over it, from the very start to the finish. The song builds up as it follows on a story of synths overlaid with the guitar riffs that have almost become synonymous with the album. As the drums pick up, you start to get more into the song as the song just keeps on going and going but you're not worried about it ending, just enjoying the epic sounds that the band are creating. Again, this is a track that would sound unbelievable at any venue, whether it be Wembley or your local pub.
The band are heading out on tour with gigs at London's Koko, Portsmouth's Wedgewood Rooms and London's Scala and if you like your rock then you would definitely enjoy the Pure Reason Revolution experience. The album does sound disjointed at times but the second half of the album more than makes it respectable. Any rock lover would enjoy the album but it does fail to leave any real identity with what the bands ‘sound’ is and once they get that nailed, they are sure to have a fantastic LP lurking round the corner.
Stereoboard Album Rating: 6/10
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The next track, ‘Black Mourning’, displays better song writing from the four-piece with the male vocals captivating you in a weird trance. The riffs are a lot simpler and doesn’t tend to overload the listener with too much guitar but cuts them down into a more digestible size whilst still having that rock guitar element. A much better track compared to the first.
