ALBUM REVIEW: Vulture Culture – Bombus

BOMBUS have never called themselves a political band, and have something of a reputation for massive sounds and gritty vocals. With their latest album, Vulture Culture, the subject matter leans heavily on human destruction, but with enough melodic bounce to hopefully keep the party feeling going, even in such messed up times.

First up is A Ladder – Not A Shovel, which is a brilliant start to this record; its bombastic rhythm section, heavy and raucous screaming guitars all adds up to a good thing. The energy becomes very focused once the vocals kick in, and becomes a real old school belter, with erratic and relentless pacing that pulls on a punk attitude. It’s not all one dimensional, as BOMBUS create a good amount of tension that arises in the breakdown, as things come to a head in pretty emotional final third.

(You Are All Just) Human Beings has just as much punch to throw, a crisp melody ringing out under a gravel voice. The most accurate combination here might be to compare a mixing of MOTÖRHEAD and FOO FIGHTERS. It’s easy to chant to and is an instant ear worm, with some smoulderingly fun soloing. This is the best blending of hard rock and modern ideas; every aspect works to create a vocally poignant and yet all round good fun track.

Mama has a darker sense about it, just as pummelling but the overall progression is much more sinister. The general vibe is pretty interesting; lyrically it could be a bit mocking of society’s lack of awareness and over leaning on a nanny state, or more subtle commentary on our failing the world that made us, depending on your reading of it. The momentum is more plodding than previous tracks, adding a nice doom feel in places, with an interesting outro of children chanting “do what your mama said”. Lots to unpack and enjoy.

It’s All Over is a completely different beast. At the rough midway point in the album, this feels like a completely different band from its intro, all clean and quiet both in the instruments and the vocals. It’s good to see BOMBUS messing with some new ideas, moving into a pretty arty harmonic layering of voices, before a towering into something more akin to the rest of the record with yet another indulgent guitar lead piece.

In the Shadows and We Lost A lot Of Blood Today are definitely less artistically inclined, and draws right back into the blasting vocals and chugging guitars. Both have a pretty interchangeable feel, a consistent tempo they groove on, with decent melodies, but the latter definitely in the stronger of the two, with a bigger hook to draw you in. Title track Vulture Culture is another edge into a creepier dimension of the band, where the sway of the melody is much softer and unsettling in the verse, it evokes a bit of a PRIMUS feel until the blasting chorus takes over and keeps things in the classic rock feel. The work through this piece is pretty polished, nice dual guitars smatter throughout and the drums mess around with some nice beats.

Two Wolves and One Sheep starts in one direction and swiftly catches you off guard. It’s a little phoned in lyrically, it’s the least interesting performance, and with all the tricks and signposts of the rest of the album come and go instrumentally, without adding much. Ending out on Feeling is Believing, BOMBUS pull out some final surprises and stretch into new and interesting territories with their lead playing sections, balancing the more extreme moments with the comfortable sway of the vocals.

All in all, Vulture Culture is a really enjoyable album with lots of classic sounds and some new ideas popped in there to keep things interested. For fans of the big, bold sounds of MOTÖRHEAD and the same taking things as it comes attitude, BOMBUS still deliver a stonking good time.

Rating: 7/10

Vulture Culture is out now via Century Media Records.

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