It would be easy to be cynical about this re-release of Gallows debut album. Now coming with a bonus disk of new material and live sessions courtesy of the BBC, it would be easy to write it off as an attempt by their label to cash in on their new found popularity. Gallows may will be the NME’s latest cash cow, but for those of you who missed it first time around Orchestra of Wolves is actually work the praise.

I could write about how this doesn’t sound all that original. How I’ve heard those riffs before, those shouted vocals, the bile and the bruises. Oh yes, I’ve seen and heard it all before. But that would be pointless. These guys might not be original and they might even split up before they can become the next great hope for British rock music. However, these guys channel an energy and aggression that rarely gets conveyed onto disc. Their legendary live shows bristle with an energy, an electricity and it rarely makes a transition into the studio. From the opening line of “Kill the rhythm, smash the place!”, combined with a chainsaw riff, you can do nothing but sit up an take notice. The guitars crash and tear each other apart, Frank Carter’s haunting howl of a voice cracks and creaks as it delivers each line of their bile filled lyrics. For the twelve tracks, it doesn’t let up. The Hundred Reason’s riff of recent single Abandon Ship prove they’ve got an ear for something approaching pop music whilst the Deftones-esque instrumental of Last Fight for the Living proves they know how to do something other than trash their instruments. Rolling With The Punches posses one of the most twisted guitar riffs I’ve heard for ages, it sounds so evil and sinister that it should be locked up and never heard again for fear of starting a riot.

Whether these guys can take the pressure being piled upon them is anyone’s guess. Each week you hear another rumour about them splitting up or having enough of playing together. But there’s enough promise here to think that they might be able to carry that most hallowed of things: the mighty rock flag for Britain. They’ve got an ear for a riff whilst having plenty of vitriolic lyrics that can be shouted and chanted. If this is the sound of the underground, it won’t be for very long.
70%

Links
Gallows [official site] [myspace]