Therapy? is a band that over the years has variously perplexed and split the metal fraternity. Having the sort of commercial success that saw them appearing in both the independent and mainstream charts, as well as touring with such blatantly non metal acts as Inspiral Carpets meant that despite appearing on Kerrang covers, Therapy was often the preserve of the indie fan, in the nineties Teethgrinder t-shirts ending up festooned with Neds Atomic Dustbin badges.
Despite variously straddling or alienating genres, changes in label and line up, Therapy? are now back with an album that coincides with their 20th anniversary. Crooked Timber opens with the tongue twisting ‘The Head That Tried to Strangle Itself’, a track that with its complex lyrics, stripped back industrial guitars, and Andy Cairn’s agonised vocals feels that it is so much longer then the actual three and a half minutes it plays, such is its depth and the way it grabs the listener by the throat.
This bleak aggression continues into ‘Enjoy The Struggle’, complexities kicked into touch by a rhythm section that blasts its way to the front with authoritative bass and drums, those instruments dominating throughout the album, the guitar becoming an accompaniment rather then a lead. Nowhere is this more apparent then on ‘Clowns Galore’, where the darkness of the album is encapsulated in the spat out lyrics, “what do we do/now that we are happy?”
I found it impossible to find a standout track on the album, simply because of the sheer quality throughout. Tracks like ‘Exiles’ meandered through freeform distorted discords, the vocals sounding as if they were being projected through a psychedelic haze, whilst title track ‘Crooked Timber’ has the vocalist sound almost plaintive over heavy, repetitive chugging riffs.
With the band once again a three piece, every track on the album sounds as if it could be recreated live, the production being tight and precise, capturing Therapy?’s dark sound perfectly. This is a stunning album by a band that has seen its ups and downs, and after three years in the making marks a fantastic return to form.
http://www.myspace.com/therapyquestionmark
http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk
