Bite Back: Dance Of Death (Skeleton Records)
Ltd LP | CD | DL
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Birkenhead’s Bite Back return with their third and long overdue album; across the twelve tracks they maintain their hard, fast, yet melodic style that neatly includes some Heartbreakers swagger.
Bite Back are stalwarts of the UK DIY punk scene, born from the ashes of Instant Agony; though they too have reformed in recent years, both bands being fronted by the rasping Hocky as he reflects upon the horrors of our everyday world, in particular personal greed, the continuing rush to technology and globalisation. A clattering drum signals the excellent Memories, which is built around a taut rhythm, and its that rhythm that is key to Bite Back; this is a band that are firmly seated in punk rock, yet they haven’t abandoned the knack of writing a decent song in favour of headlong speed and garbled vocals, similarly with I Don’t Like You which cleverly focuses on the space allowed to each guitar and features some punch the air backing vocals that would ignite any mosh pit.
Crazy World has a cranking riff that keeps things moving and will keep you on your toes whilst One-Eyed City, a lament to the bands home town Birkenhead initially reminded me of Ferocious Dog’s Slow Motion Suicide as the opening vocal is held up by a simple guitar texture before the combination of crunching guitar and pounding drums drag us back to a more familiar punk rock playing field. It’s this ability to assimilate influences yet retain their own identity that is Bite Back’s core strength, take the darkness of Bad Blood – the albums stand out track that resembles anything The Meteors P. Paul Fenech would be proud to call his own, Bite Back have seized the groove, this absolutely rocks and rolls and even features a hammered piano refrain, there is plenty of muscle within Road Warrior, a bass that punches you firmly in the chest and Bite Back are hitting all the right notes, this along with the impressive opening riff that launches Stand By Me; these songs shimmer, the measured pace before exploding at just the right moment with buzzing riffs and chanted choruses. Whiskey Galore sees them veer ever so slightly towards the Dropkicks, not a bad thing, and once again demonstrates that Bite Back aren’t afraid to stretch their musical muscle, whilst the revved up You Are The One has that Thunders sleaze deep within its gnarly DNA.
Dance Of Death is an album that brims with urgency, it’s riddled with rhythmic energy and suitably acerbic lyrics and effortlessly demonstrates that Bite Back still have what it takes.
Track List:
Memories
I Don’t Like You
Crazy World
One Eyed City
One Foot In The Grave
Bad Blood
Road Warrior
Stand By Me
Whisky Galore
You Are The One
The Truth
Good Cop / Bad Cop
Bite Back online:
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