ALBUM REVIEW: The Beast Goes On – Starbenders
Bands that invoke a vintage style in both aesthetics and sound often like to remain in their selected era and rarely change anything about it. Most are invoking the time period in every sense, wanting to just capture the core of the era and don’t want to ruin the mystique they create for their audience. However, on occasion, there are those bands who evolve their sound in a way that progresses from the period they started in, for example, going from the 70s to the 80s.This is what glam rockers STARBENDERS have done, progressing their sound into a new retro decade with their new album, The Beast Goes On. With the move to more prominent synths in their music, as well as a new drummer for this record, does the band evolve nicely into a new era, or do they fall flat on their feet?
An interesting choice with this album’s tracklist is that the beginning is sonically like their other glam rock songs from their previous albums, Take Back The Night and Love Potions, then gradually adds more and more synth, as if slowly getting the audience accustomed to the change in a subtle and clever way. The opening title track gives a strong KANSAS resemblance, but in a celebratory way, as if honouring the 70s bands that came before them, which comes across in all their music. Throughout the album, it’s evident how much the band adore vintage music and how much it inspires their work whilst making something uniquely theirs. This is shown in songs like Nothing Ever Changes, Chantily Boy, Saturday, and Somebody Else, where every influence comes together to create something new sonically and in the lyrics, all of which are performed wonderfully.
In terms of the songs that have the synths more prominently within the music, those songs are done exceptionally well too. Somebody Else, for example, has a great dark edge to it that the synths draw out, similar to SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES, but still sounds like the STARBENDERS sound. Indeed, even the more synth heavy songs, like Summon My Heart, Tokyo, Cold Silver and Forever Mine, each with their strong, defiant style that easily differentiate themselves from the other tracks of the album. Whilst there are a few missteps in certain tracks, like in hello goodbye where “goodbye” and “Valentine” are rhymed consistently ad nauseam, even in that song the sound is strong with brilliant vocals from Kimi Shelter that such missteps can be forgiven.
Overall, another excellent record from the Atlanta glam rockers. STARBENDERS have progressed their sound effortlessly and beautifully whilst retaining themselves throughout all the songs recorded and produced for the record. The addition of synths, whilst still controversial in some rock circles, has proven successful for the band, matched by their skills and talent that have continued to carry through since the band’s beginnings. The Beast Goes On proves that even with evolution and change, STARBENDERS and their love for music, vintage and modern, prove their greatness and why they deserve love in return.
Rating: 9/10
The Beast Goes On is set for release on February 27th via Sumerian Records.
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