16^th June 2007

Tongues have been wagging for some time about Metro Riots and when I first saw them 2 years back at there manager [Roger Sargent] Future stars photo exhibition they were an angry bunch and I was intrigued and impressed by there stage control.

After seeing them countless times after either playing crammed sweaty clubs or huge venues supporting acts like Dirty Pretty Things and Juliette Lewis and a multitude of others they seem to have kept on growing and evolving as a group which you definitely have a lack of nowadays. So now the album is delivered but was it worth the wait?

Damn right!

This is an album full of happiness and pain in unequal doses and if it would have been delivered a year or more ago I doubt it would have sounded as complete.

"Poison the Bride" is a grand nod to QOTSA and Sonic youth with its tribal beat to its punked up solo which then leads you into "Watch every word" a heavy bashing whirlwind of screaming vocals and dizzy guitar and drum lines.

 Something not heard in the live shows are the more slowed down songs which show that if they really wanted too they can deliver an epic [Dare I say it] Ballad of Top 10 quality in the form of "Love Me ASAP" but the difference here [Take note Mr Borell] is this is a jagged sonnet with a hidden plea to be recognised "I always stand at the back hoping maybe you'd notice me" and the way its delivered is one of conviction and Honesty. "God bless the pharmacist" is another example as well as "Baby you've become another Habit" which is a hybrid of Black Sabbath's "Planet caravan and War Pigs" and delivered like it was the last song they were allowed to play which is probably the reason it's left to close the album. My only gripes about NTAC is the opener "New epidemic" which at the live shows always makes the place rumble and the crowd go mad but on the album it seems a little too restrained. Saying that though it is still a cracking song with extremely dance friendly drums and a crazy unhinged guitar solo. The same can be said for "Teddy Bundy x 100" which has great moments all round but hearing this song live is much more carnal.

It's left up to the other tracks to make up for this though and there is plenty to choose from

"Execute Tranquillity" borders on the point of Heavy Metal and its played with beautifully as the verses sweep in and out with the Vocals taking over complete control of the song "Lured into Roulette" and "The Butcher of Hollywood" are 2 songs White stripes would kill for and "I Just cant Recover" would make Oasis realise where there going wrong

So where now for Metro Riots? If they keep making music like this I believe there time shall come coupled with the live shows which are always a treat they can only go from strength to strength and I believe the next album [Hopefully delivered quicker than 2 years boys] shall be another step up the ladder. Its time for the big bands to be looking over there shoulders because The Riots are coming for the throne and they sound hungry as hell

5/5

Carmen Ritter

www.Roughtrade.com