Since the release of their debut LP, ‘Strange House’, in 2007, the Horrors have been in a state of constant evolution. Its critically acclaimed follow up, ‘Primary Colours’, took their goth-garage-punk sound and gave it an injection of psychedelics, while 2014’s ‘Luminous’ saw them dabble with a more danceable core.
‘V’ – named as a two-finger salute to doubters as much as a reference to album number five – finds them bringing in producer Paul Epworth (Adele, Bloc Party, Maximo Park) after two times around the block co-producing with Craig Silvey. Recorded at Church Studios in Crouch End the LP sees the five-piece “taking it back into the shadows”.
Preferring to keep moving has again reaped rewards, with ‘V’ playing to their strengths majestically. The dark, brooding lead single, Machine, is a dance track for misfits: melodic perfection wrapped in spiky Depeche Mode industrialism.
Opening juggernaut Hologram, meanwhile, mesmerises with meandering, distorted synths that craft an air of menace and recall early Gary Numan and Tubeway Army.
The stylistic shifts keep coming, too. The ghoulish Ghost fuses a Black Sabbath-style doom riff with a cinematic shroud inspired by Tim Burton, while a pulsing dance beat drives Point of No Reply’s study of an abusive relationship. The euphoric single Something To Remember Me By is another standout and melds latter day New Order with classic synth tones.
Veering from the bludgeoning power of Weighed Down to the warped pop brilliance of three-minute wonder World Below, there is much to admire about ‘V’. It would seem that the appointment of a new third party in Epworth has allowed the Horrors’ latest change in direction to end up at their best album to date.
The Horrors Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Mon October 16 2017 - BELFAST Mandela Hall
Tue October 17 2017 - DUBLIN Tivoli Theatre
Thu October 19 2017 - GLASGOW Queen Margaret Union
Fri October 20 2017 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Newcastle University
Sat October 21 2017 - LEEDS Leeds Beckett Students Union
Sun October 22 2017 - LIVERPOOL O2 Academy Liverpool
Tue October 24 2017 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute
Wed October 25 2017 - BRISTOL Bierkeller Bristol
Thu October 26 2017 - CAMBRIDGE Junction 1
Sat October 28 2017 - BRIGHTON Centre
Sun October 29 2017 - LONDON KOKO
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