ALBUM REVIEW: Under The Crooked Claw – BAT
Frontman Ryan Waste describes BAT‘s music as “primitive heavy speed,” and whatever you’re picturing is exactly what it means. Some bands can get lost in the grandiose creativity of their own minds, like a toddler with a box of crayons and more energy than structure. Then there are bands like BAT, who arrive with a style so minimalist and powerful it feels like you’ve injected your morning coffee directly into your veins. The trio of Waste, Nick Poulos and Chris Marshall is many things, but it’s definitely not subtle.
BAT‘s DNA goes back to 2008 when MUNICIPAL WASTE guitarist Ryan Waste discussed a new no-frills project with drummer Felix Griffin. And although the band took a few more years to come to fruition, it’s still true to those original ideals. The duo added Poulos, and they were off to the races, recording an album and a couple of EPs before Griffin departed in 2017. However, the band lost nothing with Marshall stepping up, using his punk rock drumming style to take things to another dimension.
Under The Crooked Claw is the band’s second album and it flies by, clocking in at just over 35 minutes. For all that it’s uncompromising and in your face, the album begins with a slow, melodic intro courtesy of Italian composer Fabio Frizzi. The instrumental titled Una Torcia Illumina Il Cielo (‘A Torch Lights The Sky’ in English) lulls you in and gently hints at the darkness to come. But it isn’t long before the ferocious Vampyre Lore cuts off the foreboding piano melody signalling the true start of the record. Aside from a rhythm section designed to hit you in your very soul, the first thing you notice is Waste‘s trademark bark of a vocal. His venom-filled delivery will be an acquired taste for some and a deal breaker for others, but without it BAT just doesn’t work.
Rite For Exorcism tells the story of a girl accepting the devil instead of fighting it, with evil winning the day in the band’s own punchy style. Horror is a big theme throughout, cementing the fact this isn’t a record for the faint-hearted. The MOTÖRHEAD-infused Streetbanger is the album’s real highlight and its supercharged rock ‘n’ roll rhythms get under your skin in no time. The guitar solo that rips through the middle third is the icing on the cake. Just Buried, Warshock and Battered are more of the same high-powered heavy metal but they blur together a little, while Horror Vision that nestles in between them adds another layer of darkness to proceedings.
The problem with Under The Crooked Claw is that it lacks real standout moments. Too many of the songs blur together and there isn’t enough to keep fans coming back time and time again. The skill and precision is undeniable, but for an album to take hold there needs to be more than that. Revenge Of The Wolf and Marauders Of Doom threaten to be those tracks, but despite the heavy nods to IRON MAIDEN they fall just short of truly dazzling. BAT‘s love all of things NWOBHM shines throughout, with elements twisted and adapted into their own trademark style; never is that more the case than on Bastardized Force and Final Strike which close the album.
There’s plenty to enjoy on Under The Crooked Claw, but it all comes off a bit one-note. By the mid-way point the album is out of surprises. Despite its relentless energy it feels like you’ve heard it all before. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t positives. Having the bass so far forward in the mix a-la-Lemmy gives the album so much more grunt. That, coupled with the stunning musicianship throughout, means there’s always something to nod your head to, but the lack of variety and wow-factor sadly hold it back.
Rating: 6/10
Under The Crooked Claw is set for release on May 17th via Nuclear Blast Records.
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