With the exception of the title 'President Trump', few things are as scary as having to replace the lead singer of your band. Once the most recognisable, and often alluring, part of a group's identity bolts out the door, most are pretty much screwed. So, while it may have been brown pants time for the Treatment when they faced up to that fact last year, it was actually just what the doctor ordered.
It seems like an eternity since these British rockers arrived in 2011, armed with their promising debut 'This Might Hurt'. Tours supporting Mötley Crüe and Kiss followed, with the band tipped for greatness by fans, critics and peers alike. They failed to match those expectations, though, with sophomore effort 'Running With The Dogs' ending up as a patchy affair that had some impressive moments amid too many solid, but unremarkable and often cliched cuts.
They say a change is as good as a rest, and the Treatment have recently had a double dose of that proverbial medicine. Along with the amicable departure of frontman Matt Jones they also lost Fabian Dammers, their third guitarist in as many years.
Into that void stepped Tao Grey, younger brother of the band's long term axemanTagore, while the vocal hot seat has been filled by MitchelEmms.
With a voice - and appearance - that's remarkably similar to H.E.A.T's Erik Grönwall, Emms is no placebo, he's the real fucking deal. Vastly superior to Jones, his presence, power and ballsy charisma scream next level. From ripping his throat apart on Bloodsucker and Let It Begin to meeting the more melodic demands of Backseat Heartbeat, it's an impressive bow.
It helps that he's singing the most consistent material of the Treatment's career, while recording live in the studio has also given them a tighter, stripped back attack that's as raw as an inflamed nerve. The Devil and Cry Tough ape the mean grooves and hook-laden simplicity of early AC/DC, with the attitude-soaked Tell Us The Truth riding a tidal wave of rolling riffage and the fearsome title track built on layers of rebellious fretboard action.
As for the Grey brothers, the six-string force is clearly strong in their family. They've a genetic predisposition for whipping up a tornado of vintage rhythmic crunch, scalpel-edged solos and great harmony work that recalls Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden.
There's nothing particularly original about 'Generation Me', it's just great hard rock that's tailor made for disenfranchised youths spitting fire and snot-nosed declarations of war. We've heard it all before, but Emms takes those time honoured tropes and totally sells them. The Treatment still need to step it up a gear if they're to reclaim that early momentum, but following successful surgery to their line-up, the band's long term prognosis appears to be very healthy indeed.
The Treatment Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed April 27 2016 - NORWICH UEA Waterfront Studio
Fri April 29 2016 - BIRMINGHAM Oobleck
Sat April 30 2016 - CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach
Sun May 01 2016 - SHEFFIELD Corporation
Mon May 02 2016 - OXFORD O2 Academy Oxford
Wed May 04 2016 - PORTSMOUTH Wedgewood Rooms
Thu May 05 2016 - LEEDS Key Club
Fri May 06 2016 - WOLVERHAMPTON Little Civic (The Slade Rooms)
Sat May 07 2016 - STOKE Sugarmill
Mon May 09 2016 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE O2 Academy Newcastle
Tue May 10 2016 - GLASGOW Stereo
Wed May 11 2016 - MANCHESTER Satans Hollow
Thu May 12 2016 - NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
Fri May 13 2016 - LONDON O2 Academy Islington
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