Gradual volume swells and heavy vibrato fingered guitars mark the beginning of the latest addition to Red Sparowes catalogue The Fear Is Excruciating, But Therein Lies The Answer. The album, according to bassist Greg Burns, is a direct transition from 2008’s Aphorisms E.P and the first full length that features guitarist Emma Ruth Rundle.This album comfortably explores the different terrains of melody more than previous efforts and also covers a range of concepts such as mass bombings during World War II and the mentality of doomsday cults. What binds these thought strands together according to Burns is “the human need to find patterns or meaning when there may not be one."The overall dynamic through the music on this album is not a considerable change from their past releases. The differences in their creative soundscapes are most likely down to personnel changes and individual preferences on the sound of their instruments. What stands out compared to Every Red Heart Shines Toward The Red Sun is perhaps a more psychedelic feel; again a similar aesthetic to Isis and Russian Circles (and obviously past releases) but with a heavier leaning towards bands such as Sons Of Alpha Centauri/Yawning Sons. For instance, if the clambering bass line on 'In Illusions Of Order' was on At The Soundless Dawn it there would be much more of a dirty grunt to it.The pacing of the album is not all boring and repetitive loud/quiet/loud/quiet; the tracks vary within themselves to such a degree that you would swear that the album has just progressed on to the next. One of the stand out tracks ‘Hail Of Bombs’ switches from finger plucked intros and nasal delay guitar to heavy swirling melodies and tremolo octave chords without even breaking a sweat. The track is a symptom to much of the compositions on the album. It is a dense and rich recording, but the band do not overdub too much ”“ otherwise how on earth would they be able to play the tracks in full live? There are also subtle differences of cleaner guitars and layered vocals buried within the tracks. The band takes great pride in trying to keep within their ethos but to explore and push themselves within the music.It seems that by just by talking about the album, I am not really talking about what the band have to offer, or more to the point, what the band want you to experience. In past interviews drummer Dave Clifford has maintained the point that the band create music not for the intention of listening to at home; “our live shows are a huge part of the band’s personality. It seems that we're headed toward a new medium for people to enjoy music (whatever that will be remains to be seen, though obviously digital culture is the catalyst) as well a return to live performance as the primary form of musical expression. It's certainly meant to be heard loud, and the visuals help to create the sense of immersion in a "total environment" for the audience.”So, until the band decide to tour the UK, listen to this album loud, allow it to breathe through your speakers, and enjoy.Buy the album on Rhythm Online