Fucked Up – David Comes to Life

Following on from debut album Hidden World, The Chemistry of Common Life continued Fucked Up’s benchmark for simplicity, accessibility and experimentalism. Their third outing David Comes to Life sees the Canadian punks delve into the dark and murky world of the – wait for it – Rock Opera.

Across the 18 tracks (spread across 4 acts) , Fucked Up detail the story of David Eliade who falls in love with Veronica Boisson at the factory he works at. Being little terrorists, they both conspire to build a bomb where Veronica dies during a failed attempt. Queue Vivian, the new love interest of David’s in amongst his melodrama of guilt and depression. Admittedly, getting moved by the barking narrative of Abrahams is as heart-warming as a copy of ‘American Booty,’ but Fucked Up’s simple catchiness as David Comes to Life provides it just enough.

With such an expansive story comes expansive songs, each reflecting the narrative in their approach and construction providing perfect incidental music. Opener ‘Queen of Hearts’ – which details the lovers first meeting – begins in a blitzkrieg of tripling guitar squeals whilst bassist Sandy Miranda’s affectionate harmonies bring a calmer side to the chaos. As the story progresses, themes of paranoia, degradation and claustrophobia soon reveal themselves. The repeated chants of “Who Can I Trust?” in‘Life in Paper’ continuously show the cracks in David’s mind. Fucked Up’s trademark simplicity however still allows for an approachable album rather than a single focus on dramatic experimentation with hook after hook (The waving surge of ‘A Slanted Tone’, the dancing slides of ‘Inside a Frame’ and the echoing ascendancies of ‘One More Night’) ensure that brilliant rock song follows after brilliant rock song.

Such shortened track lengths in comparison to previous albums cure the danger of the album length becoming a trudge but the risk of getting lost in the narratives plot may well detract from such a pleasurable experience. Get past that though and it’s a triumphant listen – whether heard on a stage or cramped up in a toilet pissing off a major media corporation.