The raucous display that Battle For Paris invited listeners to with their previous E.P was more than impressive, yet looking back, they still seemed to be somewhat overlooked by many. However, it also seems that debut album âSuperstarâ will hopefully change all that, where the band have created an even more powerful weapon for their arsenal.
The journey begins with âFuck Tigerâ – undeniably the most satisfyingly appropriate title for the albumâs opener. The sound of quietly pacing steps followed by a pounding drum beat builds into a Dillinger Escape Plan style attack of brutality, resembling the audio equivalent of said stripy jungle creature doing all manner of horrible things to you.
âMason, Blow A Hole In That Fuckinâ Wallâ quickly touches down soon after with full effect, before the band steam roller their way through the next two tracks to reach a calmer state of mind on âReduxâ. Itâs here that the band show that they arenât so much of a one trick pony, presenting a soft minute and a half lullaby, juxtaposed to which is the grisly lyric, âLet me be the hero that cuts you from ear to ear to give you a smile to be proud ofâ.
Vocalist Tim Preston has the no-holds-barred approach to vocals that this type of music always requires. On âHe-man Womun Haters Clubâ – a track featuring some of the most destructive moments of the record – heâs wildly vicious more than ever from start to finish.
The guitar work of Joe Bush and Philip King on âSuperstarâ doesnât get boring either, and this features throughout the record. In particular, â2â sounds like an awesome love affair between the type of riffs taken straight from a Fall Of Troy textbook and that distinct Meet Me In St. Louis song writing edge.
Altogether, this is a whirlwind record of twists and turns, from the jagged buzz saw riffs to the more delicate melodies sprinkled in from time to time – and it makes for a terribly addictive, killer combination.
JAMES FOX