The Horrors - 'Primary Colours' (XL) Released 14/05/09

Besides Bono and Jonny Borrell there are very few acts who have been on the receiving end of such bile as the black-clad Southend quintet The Horrors in recent memory. What exactly was their crime though? To back-comb their hair and wear tight jeans? Russell Brand has made a fortune doing that. To wear their 60's garage rock influences on their sleeves? Pretty much every band at the turn of this decade did the same to great commercial and critical success. To just be not very good? Well, that is of course subjective and the band's debut album 'Strange House' may well be a patchy affair, but in its strongest moments ('Count In Five', Sheena Is A Parasite') it's a solid modern re imagining of The Sonics by way of The Cramps.

So still the question remains, why do The Horrors face such opposition?Perhaps it's an innate, Nathan Barley inspired dislike of hipster style over substance. The idea that any band who take an interest in fashion and aesthetic are 'not real' and just playing at the big mans game of rock music. Either way these  barriers have always stood between The Horrors and credibility.

So The Horrors return would be forgiven for perhaps being met with muted expectations. What's interesting, however, is that it's this low level of anticipation that will work in The Horrors' favour as they have crafted an incredible return that should see them finally gain the even playing field they have always deserved.

From the off you know things have changed from the haunted seaside organ swirls of 'Strange House' as you are thrust into a deep and hypnotic pit of introspection and 'Primary Colours' violence. There seems to be two factors ruling the recording of this album. The first is Geoff Barrow of Portishead who is manning the producers desk throughout. His heavy and intense style is felt throughout and is a defining motif running to the very heart of the album. The second is the way the album was recorded in an underground studio with no windows. Horrors lead singer Faris Badwan has described how this led to a timeless atmosphere leading to non-stop four day recording sessions. This shows in the music, it feels semi-conscious at moments- gone are the shrieks and fits of yore and in their place control and repetition. This state of mind similarly defines the record.