Goldblade ‘The Terror Of Modern Life’ (via Overground Records)

Crikey what happened to Goldblade?! It’s been 5 years since their last album Mutiny’ and in those five years the world has become a more depressing place and this doom and gloom has been echoed in Goldblade’s sound and on this new album.

Long gone are the poppier tunes of yesteryear to be replaced by a much heavier and harder sound personified by Keef Curtis’s bass playing which rattles and growls and sounds like he’s playing it through a cabinet that’s shot to pieces. Or maybe Keith is just shot to pieces?

John Robb’s lyrics are now starker and more overtly political, no doubt where his allegiances lie with left-wing leaning songs like ‘We’re All In It Together’ and it’s brilliant accompanying video that parodies David Cameron and Sick/Tired. Poor Robb, there goes his knighthood.

‘We’re All In It Together’

Most of the other tracks are no nonsense punk rock blasters, highly recommended listening are: the opening track ‘This Is War’, the incendiary ‘My Mind Is Like An Atom Bomb’ and the madly frenetic ‘Guilty’.

Honorary mentions go to two of the very different tracks on the album: ‘Serious Business’ which has a Clash/Ruts style reggae-come-dub groove and the title track which is over 8 minutes long and closes the album and is one of the starkest and bleakest pieces of music I’ve heard in a long time. Part Killing Joke, part industrial, part Sun O))) the track closes with immaculate line “there’s no future in England’s bleeding”.

This album is no easy listen but it’s easily Goldblade’s best. 8.6/10
Ray Nicholl

‘The Shaman Are Coming’ Music Video