Pulled Apart by Horses - Tough Love (Album Review)
Thursday, 02 February 2012
Written by Owen Sheppard
Truly in the spirit of raw and ballsy rock ‘n’ roll, Yorkshire’s finest new guitar band have returned within a mere 13 months of releasing their mouthwatering debut to deliver a “difficult second album” that makes a piss take out of the phrase.
The main contrast with this and their self-titled first outing is that now, Pulled apart by Horses sound like they have an ounce more ambition in their song writing. The number of pre 2007 Biffy Clyro reminiscent time signatures and math riffs is ever so slightly toned down and although this LP feels just as lean and aggressive; PABH’s inner weird seems somewhat restrained also. Some choruses on the other hands are bigger and bolder and tracks like Bromance ain’t Dead stick out like a sore thumb in regards to this.
But in complete truthfulness these are fairly miniscule modifications and the overall added oomph behind these tracks lies mostly within some quite masterful production from past Pixies and Foo Fighters collaborator Gil Norton. And you can hear what a difference he makes. When the power chord riffs take centre stage the guitars sound beefed up like a truck driver’s lunch, take “Night of the Living” for example. But when Tom Hudsons’s animalistic yelps and screams need emphasising, the balance feels perfectly struck as you will here on the tempered lead guitar effects and proclamations of “when I was a kid I was a dick, but nothing changes” on Wolf Hand.
In terms of singles potential, the already radio 1 acclaimed ferocious album opener V.E.N.O.M is an obvious album highlight. Meanwhile album closer Every Thing Dipped in Gold, with its spiralling, slightly Joy Divisiony feeling guitar lines and a corker of a bass riff, not to mention another sing along assuring chorus feels like a black horse for best album track. The album does bare a few more easily forgotten numbers but is perfectly enjoyable on a start to finish listen.
Back in December 2010 this feral four piece were more commonly receiving associations with indie bands within the indie scene like Foals, not that this is a bad thing of course, but this latest offering seems like it will bring them closer to comparison with the likes of British hardcore stalwarts Gallows, Turbowolf or even at a push, Trash Talk. After all, Pulled Apart by Horses certainly sound just as formidable when they want to be, all be it much less bleak and more light hearted which will keep them feeling much more accessible to a broader rock favouring audience.
Having seen them twice during the festival season last year, I can tell you that these chaps are already a force to be reckoned with in a live setting as it is. And armed with a fresh new back catalogue, their coming February tour with West Country punks The Computers is sure to tare the UK rock community a new one. The standard for rock ‘n’ roll in 2012 has just been set.
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The main contrast with this and their self-titled first outing is that now, Pulled apart by Horses sound like they have an ounce more ambition in their song writing. The number of pre 2007 Biffy Clyro reminiscent time signatures and math riffs is ever so slightly toned down and although this LP feels just as lean and aggressive; PABH’s inner weird seems somewhat restrained also. Some choruses on the other hands are bigger and bolder and tracks like Bromance ain’t Dead stick out like a sore thumb in regards to this.
